Marine Blue Leptotes marina Immatures Home  -  Butterflies  -  Details Female Eclosure     Male Eclosure     Specimen

OVA LARVAE #3 - One day old Larva  photographed  17 August #8 - Second Instar photographed 18 August #8 - Second Instar photographed 18 August, 2010 Molted to Third Instar on 20 August, 2010 photographed on 22 August Molted to Third Instar on 20 August, 2010 photographed on 22 August #4 Fourth Instar on 23 August, 2010 #13 Fourth Instar The side striping reminds me of the adult's markings.  Notice the thoracic shield marking  in back of the head - Photo 27 August, 2010 #13 Fourth Instar Photo shows where the larva burrowed inside the Sugar Snap Pea to feed and the stack of frass to the other end #11 larva turning a rose color prior to forming a pupa - 7/16" - 24 August Pupa Photos Pupa formed 26 August - Photographed 27 August 2010 Eyes showing pink indicating development - 31 August 2010 Wing Case and Thorax Turned Dark  by 11:30 A.M. 2 September 2010 Pupal shell is beginning to separate from the wings and body of the butterfly  Photo on 2 September at 6:30 P.M.  The butterfly emerged  2 September  7:17 P.M. PHOTO AND OTHER DETAILS - ©Nicky Davis One Female located 11 August 2010 by Todd Stout in alfalfa fields in  Lindon City, Utah County, Utah.  Female oviposited on leaves, buds, and stems when placed on bouquet of alfalfa in a small screened container  and set in dappled  sunlight. City of Lindon 84042, Utah County, Utah GPS N. 40.20.28, W. 111.46.15 Elevation 4503 feet HOST PLANTS Alfalfa and Wild Licorice These were reared on Sugar Snap  Peas in individual  cello cups.  Due to the difficulty of rearing such a tiny larva on an alfalfa flower, I tried using Sugar Snap Peas as the host plant. The marina seemed to grow and thrive using the peas.  In the past, Jack Harry  has suggested that I try snow pea pods for blues that use a host plant in the pea family.  In this particular bug, using the actual peas of the sugar snap peas  was satisfactory. TIME SPENT AS: Ova:  3 days Larvae:  An amazing 10 days using the peas as host plant which may have accelerated growth Pupae: 7 days Adults:  unknown BROOD OR FLIGHT: Several