Last autumn, I was privileged to watch Nature put on an act in our rock garden. It had nothing to do with gardening, yet, it was a fascinating performance.
On a large rock under the big pine, a pendant swayed gently in the late September sun; a shining black cable supported the object.
Cool green it was with the tint and texture of ancient Chinese jade, flecked and half-banded with flakes of warm gold, interspersed by pepperings of black.
No fabrication of Cellini, this pendant, no concept of lapidarian genius; just one of Nature’s unique masterpieces.
Black-Banded Caterpillar
The previous week a yellow, black-banded caterpillar had glided from the grass and plodded diligently up the rock searching, searching for something that instinct and a turgid body made imperative.
Numerous explorations brought satisfaction. After a while, the caterpillar chose a nub on the rock, faced outward, then remained motionless for a period.
Later, threads of viscid silk appeared from its posterior, threads which merged, as they touched time stone, into a firmly-attached button.
Soon the caterpillar was anchored. Another period of lassitude, then up and back curved time zebra-marked head until an upside-down question mark hung from the silken button.
Now a drying process became evident, and skin desiccation began — the outer skin horst and contracted into a telescoped ball.
Metamorphosis Taking Place
Meanwhile, a remarkable metamorphosis was taking place. No flayed creature was exposed when the glove of skin rolled back; here was something new and amazingly different.
The exposed object was smaller by half than the caterpillar and encased in armor; flexible mail of exquisitely-joined plates; green sectors dusted recently with gold.
The new creation was a stout tapering cylinder of waxy texture, sleek to the touch. Nature had fashioned a chrysalis!
There hung the object, bright and green and golden. Surely such glory should be attributed to the rarest of butterflies! Not so. This particular jewel was the chrysalis of a very common butterfly, Anosia plexippus, the milkweed butterfly.
North America knows the migrant, as do Australia and Java, and Sumatra. Its wings of black-ribbed red are familiar sights in England and the Philippines, too.
Perhaps your backyard harbors a chrysalid jewel. Why not look for yourself some time this Fall?
44659 by Allen H. Wood, Jr.