Wait, did you see that? A butterfly!

 Heyy,

Well, I have a short story to share with you. The protagonist is a Red Pierrot butterfly.

It was a Sunday evening in January. I took a break from my work and went to my terrace. What do I see there? A larva of Red Pierrot butterfly on Patharchatta (Kalanchoe pinnata) plant leaf. My excitement was beyond measure. Spotting the larva of this butterfly was on my bucket list for time immemorial. You must been thinking why? Because these larvae are leaf miners. They feed on the insides of the leaves without disturbing the upper and lower epidermis. They can only be spotted when they move from one leaf to another or at the time of pupation. These larvae leave a trail as they mine the leaf. That way, you can know their location. 

                                   

                                 

Plate 1: The larvae of the Red Pierrot Butterfly

Over the next months, I was lucky enough to see the pupa and adult stages of this butterfly. This was the third time I had observed the complete lifecycle of a butterfly, with the other two being the Common Mormon and Plains Cupid.

                                         

Plate 2: Pupa

                               

Plate 3: Empty chrysalis

                               

Plate 4: Adult right after emerging from chrysalis

     

Plate 5: Adult

Butterflies have been a significant part of my life journey. A Common Mormon butterfly sparked my interest in wildlife, which led me to pursue a master's degree in Wildlife Sciences. Fast forward to October 2023- January 2024, when I was feeling lost and unsure of my career path, the Red Pierrot butterflies reignited my curiosity and passion for research.

It won't be wrong to say that butterflies got me interested in the field of wildlife and when I was lost a couple months ago, these butterflies brought me back. 

That's all for now. I hope to see you soon with a new idea or a story.

Warmest

Sakshi