The Common Mormon ♂

Description:

This newly emerged butterfly has its wings curled up in the fist picture. The whole series of pictures ( from 1 to 6) was shot in a time span of 12 minutes. You can see the butterfly slowly inflating it wings through these pictures. The newly emerged butterflies usually hang upside down from a leaf or a branch so that the gravity pull can aid the whole process. Once the wings are fully inflated(is still soft at this stage) the butterfly has to wait till the wings become dry before it can take its first fight. U can also see the empty chrysalis as well in these pictures.

Habitat:

Swallowtail butterflies ( mainly Common Mormon and Blue Mormon) has a special liking to the lemon tree in my garden when it come to laying eggs and starting a family. Common Mormon caterpillars usually choose their resting place on the host plant itself before the long sleep. While on the other had the blue Mormon caterpillars will travel up to 4 meters from the host plant to find a resting place for the long sleep( There is usually no foliage left on the host plant once these voracious eaters are done with the host plant)