Spring!!!

It's so exciting when you see your first caterpillar and beetle at the beginning of a new year. On various walks last week, Paul and I saw quite a few Drinker Moth caterpillars and this large chrysalis which we later identified as an Emperor Moth chrysalis. Why haven't I seen them before? The moth itself will emerge probably later this month. Of course lichens are here all year round, which makes them extra delightful, so I've included a sample of just some that we saw on our Islay travels!
Becky
PS The beetle got away photoless!

Drinker Moth caterpillar

Emperor Moth chrysalis

Cladonia floerkeana

Cladonia sp

Fuscidea cyathoides

Downy moss?

Visitor Centre News

Outside the office, I was serenaded by a robin as it burst into tuneful singing between showers!

The lobster (whose name will soon be revealed) was also very active, and was struggling to break into a rather large mussel before I left. When we first got the lobster, it rarely ventured outside its favourite pipe, but now can be seen patrolling the tank at any time of day.

Today was also the first time I have fed Benny the Blenny who suprised me by racing after everyone elses' meal!

Finally, we once again have 13 (I think) chrysalises, a mix of Peacocks and Tortoiseshells.

Lorna

Peacock Caterpillar weaves its chrysalis

MVI_0256 a video by Sgeir Mhor on Flickr.

A snippet of yesterday's caterpillar in action, including the decapitation of itself!

Lorna

Butterfly Update

Shortly after arriving for another day at the visitor centre this morning, I began doing the rounds, checking all the creatures were alright. I was so excited when I noticed this Peacock Butterfly caterpillar beginning its transformation into a chrysalis, having missed the other 5 or so. For the next 8 minutes (9.38 am -9.46 am) I keenly watched  the fat caterpillar get shorter and shorter, squashing itself into its shiny green tent. I have captured the action in this sequence of photos as best I could amongst a maze of fellow chrysalises! The final stage was for the hard worked caterpillar to decapitate itself (almost). You will see this in a video to follow.

9.38am

9.38am

9.41am

9.44am: It looked like a real struggle!

9.46am: Once the major transformation was complete, there was much writhing, squirming and twitching. The chrysalis gradually darkened to brown.

The 'Big Question' in July's BBC Wildlife Magazine is all about how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. In my reading, I have discovered that a caterpillar's juvenile hormone 'slows progress towards adulthood', keeping it a larva while the hormone's levels are high. Gradually the juvenile hormone slows down and falls below a critical level, triggering the final moult into a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar is basically recycled, and adult features finally develop!

Lorna

Our caterpillars turn into chrysalises

Lorna reported yesterday that at least one of our Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars had turned into a chrysalis and that several others were hanging by a thread from the roof of our pavilion. This morning there were three chrysalises altogether and I was excited to catch a caterpillar mid-weaving, although it's a bit like watching a clock - you don't seem to see it happening and then you realise it has! I managed to take this photo of the action! It shows several caterpillars in various stages of metamorphosis.

Small Tortoiseshell chrysalises

Becky

First Chrysalis forms in the Centre

Rukmini found the first chrysalis hanging from the top of the butterfly pavillion in the Centre this morning.  We are not sure whether it is a Small Tortoiseshell or a Peacock as yet - we will keep you informed!!