Citrus Butterfly

I always consider myself fortunate whenever I get to take close-up shots of butterflies.

Today I am more than fortunate. 

I managed to see this butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.

This is a Citrus Butterfly, Lime Butterfly, or Papilio Demoleus.

Can you imagine that such beauty only last for 5 days?

A butterfly doesn't have a mouth to bite nor chew.

It has a long straw like structure called proboscis that it uses to drink nectar. 

When not in use, it is coiled up.

When the butterfly was young and green, it wore a 'hair band'.

This caterpillar has a red tongue that resembles snake fangs.

This is the final stage of the caterpillar, shortly before it became a pupa.

When the caterpillar was even younger, it looked less attractive. 

Can you see why they are called 'bird droppings'?

I suspect this is where the caterpillar emerged from.

A Citrus Butterfly lays a single egg on each leaf.

Now that you have seen the entire Lifecycle of a Citrus Butterfly backwards, what next?

A mother butterfly laying eggs?

I am not that fortunate yet.

Perhaps you could help to complete the cycle with that image.

Happy Birthday to me!