Last year, 5 big caterpillars were spotted in our flower plant box, they ate all the leaves and left the stem only. They ate so fast and within the day, the leaves were all gone. Last week, we saw them again and we spotted 3 big caterpillars having a feast again in our plant box.
When we visited a butterfly farm in Paradizoo, the caretaker told us that the flower plant species we have at home are the favorite food for these caterpillars, and these big leafy eaters could be the “Mariposa” butterflies. I can tell that its Mariposa, because the caterpillars are around 6-7 inches in length and much bigger than my fingers, and it can grow bigger when they transformed into a butterfly.
They stayed here for three days, but on the fourth day, they are gone…
I also noticed that the leaves are still here… so my big suspicion is that a bird might have eaten these three caterpillars, because on the 1st day we saw them, there’s a wild bird hanging around in our garden and these birds are different and they look like a hummingbird with a curved beak. And they are not supposed to be here, because I don’t recognize their species, we only have the small pigeon like birds, the fan tail, the maya and bats.
but…maybe the bats eat them..
But its okay..that’s the circle of life.
but we are still happy to see them munch our plants… they are welcome here to feast again in the next season.
I have seen a Mariposa butterfly many times here in our area of Cavite, they are so beautiful and big. I just wish that these trio of caterpie survived that week.
See you again next year!!!
** all photos are captured with a Nikon D5300 with 18-55mm VR II lens
