The Common rose

soooo here we get to follow the life cycle of Pachliopta aristolochiae, or the common rose butterfly. It is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the genus Pachliopta, the roses, or red-bodied swallowtails.

so it all began on a walk with Michael Hoskins (who is covered in butterfly and moth tattoos, such is his passion). He pointed out a common rose butterfly egg, (based on his knowledge and the food plant). This was the size of a pin head!

I said i would photograph it on the way back, and as we returned i could just about make out the tinniest of creatures that had hatched. I put macro lens on, got my flash primed and took pictures of the smallest creature i have every photographed!

He left his egg, and had a little walk, and then as i have heard tell, but never before seen, it began to eat its egg.

He then grows into this; a big bad caterpillar, eating a toxic plant, which makes it unpalatable to predators. Both as a caterpillar and later as a butterfly. The red colouring warns birds and others.

Then it turns into this wonderful chrysalis....and look at the detail of the airholes, and the thin thread that is spins to support itself, hanging from the plant.

and lastly, the beautiful butterfly

As drawn by Nicole Kit for the wildcreatures book.