A tale in tweets following the life of Rollo, a White Admiral butterfly caterpillar, offspring of Camilla
Closer view of a hatched White Admiral larva yesterday on its self-constructed 'pier', with aerial latrine suspended beneath I think? They are really tiny! #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @SussexWildlife @savebutterflies pic.twitter.com/zXeZpJWpL1
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 17, 2020
Meet the sons and daughters of Camilla! #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @rlewington2 @BCSussex @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/UekvPMyBIN
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 19, 2020
Rollo the White Admiral larva now looking deliciously spiky in 2nd instar (?) incarnation while inspecting his aerial latrine this afternoon. #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/29sewdHQ49
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 24, 2020
#WhiteAdmiralWatch is proud to present moving footage of tiny caterpillars! Here Rollo the 2nd instar White Admiral larva takes a stroll to inspect his aerial latrine. 🐛🎥@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @savebutterflies pic.twitter.com/aWRtMuIkrz
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 29, 2020
White Admiral Watch: Rollo's Adventure. In which our intrepid hero wakes up, goes for a walk, eats lunch, returns home and falls asleep again! Extended edition. 🦋🐛🎥 #WhiteAdmiralWatchhttps://t.co/llZGXFGf34@savebutterflies @BCSussex @ukbutterflies @SussexWildlife
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 30, 2020
White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) caterpillar Rollo is now in his 3rd instar and was tucking into his 3rd Honeysuckle leaf yesterday to celebrate. 🐛🎂🌿 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex pic.twitter.com/v3kYZ4KZBv
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) August 4, 2020
Monday's White Admiral caterpillar roll call looked like this. R.I.P. Dave! 🐛😟 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @ukbutterflies @savebutterflies @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/Lq0soJs6Qs
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) August 5, 2020
Rollo the precocious White Admiral caterpillar has begun to build his cut-and-shut hibernaculum. Who's a clever boy! 🐛🌿⛺️ #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @savebutterflies @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/bV60swj0yS
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) August 9, 2020
Jules has made a bivouac to shelter from the heat. Poppy has *finally* graduated to her 2nd Honeysuckle leaf! Rollo was asleep in his hibernaculum. Rich the messy eater has not been seen for 2 days now. R.I.P. Rich? #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/9QdzCehKyd
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) August 12, 2020
Rollo's natty hibernaculum incorporates a convenient frass disposal chute I noticed yesterday. Clever kid! 🐛⛺️🗑️ #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex pic.twitter.com/OUAUnNm8sB
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) August 14, 2020
World of the White Admirals. Couldn't resist a bit of drone action… 🚁🦋🐛 #WhiteAdmiralWatch pic.twitter.com/mtOWw3K8ea
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) September 11, 2020
As Rollo slumbers a brief interlude follows…
The Life and Times (and Unfortunate Demise) of a White Admiral Caterpillar Named 'Jules'. #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @savebutterflies @ukbutterflies @MikeSlater5 pic.twitter.com/wTuUsm8nsY
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) September 23, 2020
We return to the star of our show…
The Happier Tale of a White Admiral Butterfly Larva Called 'Rollo'. #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @SussexWildlife @ukbutterflies @MikeSlater5 pic.twitter.com/oIgC82R1U4
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) September 24, 2020
Catching a glimpse of the overwintering White Admiral caterpillars has become increasingly difficult, even though I know precisely where to look! 🐛🔍#WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @savebutterflies @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/rKSjA1pqWw
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) October 6, 2020
As the seasons change only two overwintering White Admiral larvae remain. #WhiteAdmiralWatch 🦋🍂🐛@BCSussex @SussexWildlife @WoodlandTrust pic.twitter.com/IPSPTBpObi
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) November 19, 2020
Rollo’s close neighbour catches a chill…
I hope the overwintering White Admiral caterpillars remembered to add anti-freeze! 🐛❄️🦋 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @SussexWildlife @savebutterflies pic.twitter.com/UeL2nF2NYp
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) January 10, 2021
Spring returns to the wood…
Rollo the White Admiral caterpillar has finally ventured out of his winter hibernaculum on Honeysuckle after more than 8 months! 🐛🦋 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @SussexWildlife @ukbutterflies pic.twitter.com/uuyO4Vm1hg
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 3, 2021
Bluebell Wood with White Admiral: The Movie. Don't expect fireworks from this little caterpillar, he's had a long winter! 🐛🦋 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @SussexWildlife @BCSussex pic.twitter.com/2noo5UM6Bf
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 5, 2021
Rollo the White Admiral caterpillar, sensibly stowed away beyond the reach of falling raindrops yesterday. Still 3rd instar I think? 🦋🐛☔️ #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex pic.twitter.com/LwhoXjZGO0
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 16, 2021
One very soggy White Admiral caterpillar this evening, draped across his former hibernaculum. There were streams in the wood where I haven't seen water before. 🦋🐛⛈️ #WhiteAdmiralWatch pic.twitter.com/LDmxvXKG7S
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 17, 2021
My 3rd instar White Admiral caterpillar is being stalked by this parasitic wasp for the 2nd day now. Am I right to be concerned Gavin? 🐝😬🐛 #WhiteAdmiralWatch @BroadGavin pic.twitter.com/As5uTBXgWZ
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 19, 2021
White Admiral hungry! White Admiral eat Honeysuckle! Thankfully the parasitic wasp lurking nearby was a false alarm.🦋🐛😋 #WhiteAdmiralWatch pic.twitter.com/5TctyLFH5T
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 20, 2021
White Admiral Watch pays tribute to Eric Carle, author of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’…
Finally some good weather for caterpillars! But sad news for children's book lovers. 🐛😋 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/bUf37aFdUH
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 27, 2021
My White Admiral caterpillar seems to be eating well but still 3rd instar, which is way behind where he should be at this time I think? #WhiteAdmiralWatch @ukbutterflies pic.twitter.com/BUZaFQs4bi
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) May 31, 2021
My White Admiral's sunbathing session was rudely interrupted when this impudent Looper Moth attempted to displace him from his perch! A furious waggle battle for Honeysuckle supremacy ensued. 🐛😠🐛 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @ukbutterflies @savebutterflies pic.twitter.com/VPdWzIJ2VJ
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 1, 2021
Rollo the White Admiral finally got round to shedding his skin yesterday and is now a spectacularly spiky 4th instar! 🐛🦋 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @ukbutterflies @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/IEmekQiiCX
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 2, 2021
Closer view shows this parasitic wasp injecting eggs into Honeysuckle while tiptoeing round my 4th instar White Admiral caterpillar! 😬 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BroadGavin @ukbutterflies @BCSussex pic.twitter.com/LpGaHyRDQR
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 7, 2021
Rollo the 4th instar White Admiral caterpillar is now turning a characteristic shade of green. #WhiteAdmiralWatch pic.twitter.com/2ukkuAQQFU
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 7, 2021
Rollo the White Admiral caterpillar is looking damn fine! 🐛😎 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BCSussex @ukbutterflies @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/92NaSJASet
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 15, 2021
But not all is well…
Frass bottom left but what might the brown gunge directly beneath my White Admiral's head be? #WhiteAdmiralWatch @ukbutterflies @mikeslater pic.twitter.com/pto8woujIv
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 19, 2021
Rollo the White Admiral caterpillar has now demolished the Honeysuckle leaves surrounding his former hibernaculum. Time to pupate? #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @SussexWildlife @MikeSlater5 pic.twitter.com/q1a4hXxgW9
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 24, 2021
Mine is clearly a little lackadaisical… 🤔 #WhiteAdmiralWatch pic.twitter.com/uN2z8InzO5
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) June 30, 2021
The reason for Rollo’s delayed development becomes clear…
A fly was over-eager to pay its last respects to my parasitised White Admiral caterpillar. But even in this near-fatal condition Rollo summoned the energy to lash out with his head! #WhiteAdmiralWatch pic.twitter.com/RgCOWbHhxg
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 1, 2021
My parasitised White Admiral caterpillar remains alive and now mobile again. I think it may also still be eating, but rear end looking somewhat dysfunctional. 🐛🐝 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @BroadGavin pic.twitter.com/n61MZ5Hq4R
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 5, 2021
He's still hanging on. Quite literally. Possibly no longer eating however.🦋🐛🐝 #WhiteAdmiralWatch pic.twitter.com/BqgsTjjRq4
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 5, 2021
The end is nigh… today I found Rollo the parasitised White Admiral caterpillar on the leaf litter below his Honeysuckle home. Fell or crawled? I'm not sure. Still alive, but barely. 🐛🐝 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BroadGavin @BCSussex pic.twitter.com/f0kNFNKGwy
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 6, 2021
It's the end of the road for Camilla's clan. 8 larvae followed from eggs or 1st instar. Rollo was the last survivor, now gone.🦋🐛😢 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@ukbutterflies @BCSussex @SussexWildlife pic.twitter.com/y6GmOEZYO2
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 9, 2021
Wasp (probably Cotesia sibyllarum) emerging from parasitised remains of White Admiral caterpillar this morning. 8 more emerged shortly after. That's now 10 in total! 🐛🐝 #WhiteAdmiralWatch@BroadGavin @BCSussex @ukbutterflies pic.twitter.com/NRcC5XYMOO
— Dom Greves (@domgreves) July 12, 2021
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