Calliandra, Blue Butterflies & Ants (part 2)

(click on a photo to enlarge)

After a few days of incubation, the eggs began to hatch. The caterpillars of Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) and Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), the two species I observed ovipositing on the Calliandra (Baja Fairy Duster), are virtually identical so it’s impossible to distinguish one from the other in the following photos. There is also great color variation in these caterpillars. It appears that they can change color to blend with their environment.

The tiny yellow-green caterpillars are all but invisible on the flower buds. It helps to have a hand lens available when searching for them. Some of the photos below were taken of hand-raised caterpillars and others were in the wild. Like most newly-hatched caterpillars, their first meal is their egg shell. Then they begin consuming the flower buds.

Tiny caterpillar near center of photo

Close-up

The flowers are the only part of the plant that the caterpillars eat. As the buds open, they eat the petals and stamens. As the caterpillars grow they shed their skins and become more colorful. It seems no two look alike! Can you see more than one caterpillar in this photo?

Here’s a caterpillar that blends nicely with a spent flower head.

Here’s one that stands out but would be less easy to spot if it were inside the petals.

Here’s a close-up of the black head which is usually kept curled under and hidden.

Next, you’ll see the amazing relationship these caterpillars have with ants.