"LIFE CYCLE" of the IO MOTH

I raised this handsome guy from a baby and learned a lot about him as he grew.  As a caterpillar his defense mechanism is the fact that the pointed barbs on his body STING when touched.  A fascinating fact:  As an adult, they have no mouth parts.  In other words, they do NOT eat once they become a winged moth.  They live to love to live.  (This series is part of the "Life Cycles" Exhibit displayed in Children's Museum of Houston and San Antonio Children's Museum.)

EGGS

BARBS STING WHEN TOUCHED!

CUTE BELLY FRECKLES!

CLOSING LEAF WITH SILK TO MAKE COCOON FOR CHRYSALIS.

INSIDE EMPTY COCOON, SHOWING CHRYSALIS AND SHED FACE MASK.

SIDE VIEW OF CHUBBY LITTLE GUY JUST EMERGED.

COOL LARGE EYES AND FEATHERED ANTENNA.

VIEW WITH WINGS CLOSED.

"LIFE CYCLE" of the SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

These photos are from the beautiful Swallowtail Butterfly I raised from my own backyard wildlife habitat. (The series is also part of my "Life Cycles" Exhibit displayed in Children's Museum of Houston and San Antonio Children's Museum.)

MOTHER LAYING EGG.

SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY EGG.

TINY BABY CATERPILLAR.

THREE STAGES OF CATERPILLAR GROWTH.

DEFENSE ORGANS FROM HEAD POCKET, EMIT STRONG ODOR WHEN FRIGHTENED!

CATERPILLAR PREPARING FOR CHANGE TO CHRYSALIS & NEW CHRYSALIS.

JUST EMERGED FROM CHRYSALIS.

READY FOR FIRST FLIGHT!

"LIFE CYCLE"of the LADY BUG

Lady Bugs go through a transformation similar to a butterfly.  Their larvae stage looks completely different from their final stage after transforming in a chrysalis into a winged beetle.  She is a predator in all stages of her life, so is very beneficial to a garden's insect balance.  (These photos are part of the Life Cycles Exhibit displayed in Children's Museum of Houston and San Antonio Children's Museum.)

LADY BUG EGGS

LARVAE STAGE (similar to caterpillar stage of a butterfly)

LARVAE TURNING INTO CHYRSALIS

CHRYSALIS STANDING UP WHEN STARTLED

EMPTY CHRYSALIS

LADY BUG SHOWING HIDDEN WINGS

BIG WHITE SILK COCOON...

A limb fell from the top of an Oak tree in my neighbor's yard and just HAPPENED to have this big beautiful white silk cocoon on it.  What are the chances of THAT particular limb falling ... just for me to share with you.  After looking it up on the internet, it seems it MAY be a type of OAK SILK MOTH.  So now we wait...I will add a photo of the creature that emerges.

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON EXHIBIT

Mother Earth's "LIFE CYCLES" Exhibit at The Children's Museum of Houston will exhibit through June, July and August  2012.  Here are some photos from my recent visit there.  The museum did a great job of displaying these six different series (Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, Swallowtail Butterfly, "Sunflower" Patchwork Butterfly,Sphinx Moth, IO Moth and Lady Bug)!

DEER

Deer in a backyard wildlife habitat area are a good sign that the ecosystem in general is still in place.  The smaller species, including plants, are needed to keep the whole intact.  Because of their size, deer also need a larger hiding place for themselves and their young ones.  I am especially fortunate since I live inside a heavily human populated city circle.  With more of the surrounding plots of land being destroyed and turned into apartment buildings, along with the heavy traffic on surrounding streets, it is only a matter of time before the larger creatures are all gone.  So, for now, I enjoy watching their beauty and grace in this natural backyard wildlife habitat.

EGGS

Eggs for most tiny creatures are the first stage of their life.  Once the mother insect has selected the best location which will provide the food needed for her babies, most eggs are left to develop and hatch on their own.  Some are laid in clusters, while others are laid singularly.  Here are a few photos of various eggs I have found in my backyard wildlife habitat.