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Project Noah Nature School
Danaus gilippus
Failed metamorphosis. Not sure what happened, but it died while trying to make its chrysalis. Black liquid dripped out of it.
Milkweed plant in a suburban yard
No. 2: Yesterday, I wrote that I had ten painted lady caterpillars, explode on me, inside one of my terrariums, and each caterpillar, came apart, into many smaller pieces, plus, there was some liquid too. Pieces of caterpillar, plus, some liquid. It was a big mess. This event, happened about thirty to thirty five years ago, when I was much younger. Back then, I had no idea, what would cause such an event to happen. This was the first, and only time, that all of the caterpillars that I was rearing, inside one of my terrariums, had all exploded, and what was left, was a big mess of dead caterpillars and some fluid. Now, thirty to thirty five years latrer, I might have an answer. These ten, painted lady caterpillars, were all killed, by the Black Death - NPV. I also believe, that this Queen butterfly caterpillar, that is shown in this photo, was also killed by the Black Death - NPV....
Many, many, years ago, when I was much younger, I was rearing ten, painted lady butterfly caterpillars, inside one of my terrariums. All of the caterpillars were eating, and all of the caterpillars were growing. Everything was okay. All of the caterpillars, were of a medium size. Everything was going good. Then one morning, I looked inside this terrarium, and something strange started to happen. Each of the ten caterpillars, started to explode ( come apart ), into many smaller pieces, plus, there was some liquid, which came from each of the ten caterpillars. I did not understand, what just happened. All ten caterpillars, just exploded ( came apart, into many smaller pieces ). This event, happened only once, and this event, never happened again, to any of the caterpillars, that I have reared. I still remember this event, like it just happened yesterday. I still have no idea, why these ten caterpillars, exploded ( came apart ), inside my terrarium, many, many, years ago, when I was much younger.... ?
This also looks like a Queen because it appears to have 3 sets of filaments, whereas Monarchs only have 2.
Spotted on Sep 18, 2017
Submitted on Dec 12, 2017
