Raised and Released

These are butterflies that I raised and released. Some of these may or may not have been mine, but since their wings looked so new, I made the assumption they probably were and had come back to the yard for nectar and/or if female, to lay eggs.

Chrysalis
Took this photo when I was relocating this chrysalis. The white string is dental floss. Works great. I pinned the loop to the top of the enclosure with a safety pin.
Caterpillar that hid for a long time
These Milkweed plants were in our bedroom being kept safe from having eggs laid on them. This caterpillar, which at this point was a 5th instar, managed to hide from me until it got this big. I checked those plants every day. Wiley cat! It is now a chrysalis (8/17/20). Should emerge in another 7 or 8 days.
My very first eclosed butterfly. Female.

Don't see the dots of a male, but the veins look thin, which would indicate male.

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