フユザンショウとカラスアゲハ（再訪）

昨日投稿したフユザンショウに止まるカラスアゲハの幼虫が気になったので、再訪しました。林縁の夕方は山麓からの冷気が厳しく、幼虫の様子を見ていると、体が凍えて動かないように見えたからです。今日は、昨日の位置から一つ上の葉に止まっていました。昨日の葉が食べ尽くされていたのに対して、今日のものは葉が付いており、新しいものかどうかはわかりませんが、食痕も確認できました。この天候でも活動できる様子を確認して、一安心です。

I was a bit concerned about the larvae of the Karasuageha butterfly (Papilio dehaanii) perched on the fuyuzanshou about which I posted a blog article yesterday, so I revisited the tree. In the evening at the forest edge, the cold air from the mountain was chilly and constant, and when I looked at the larvae, they looked as if their bodies were frozen and motionless. Today, the one on the eaten-up leaf stalk was perched on a leaf one level above yesterday's. While yesterday's leaf had been eaten up, today's leaf had several small leaves on it and I could see the eating marks on the leaves, although I am not sure if it was a new one made by this larva or not. Anyhow, it's a relief to see that they can still be active in this weather.

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The small circle is the eaten-up leaf stalk. The large one is the larva on a leaf one level higher.

This is the other larva. They don't move at all. When do they move?

Photo 2021-11-14

フユザンショウとカラスアゲハ

林縁に生えるフユザンショウにカラスアゲハの幼虫が休んでいます。すでに終齢幼虫のようで、葉を食べる様子はありません。蛹化に体の準備ができるのを待っているのか、あるいは寒さに体が動かないのか。よく見ると大きな棘を抱えるように体に食い込ませています。空腹を我慢しているようでもあり、寒さに耐えているようでもあり、何か不憫さを感じます。山から下りてくる冷気は夕刻には相当冷たくなっています。明日もう一度観察に出かけて、必要ならば、保護して蛹化させることを考えましょう。

The larvae of the Karasuageha (literally, crow swallowtail, Papilio dehaanii)，are resting on the fuyuzanshou (Zanthoxylum armatum var. subtrifoliatum) leaves that grows at the edge of the forest. They seem to be the instar larvae of the last stage and are not eating the leaves. They were resting still, as if immobilized. Are they waiting for their bodies to be ready to pupate, or are their bodies stuck in the cold? One of them is holding a large spine embedded in its body. The larva seems to be holding it while easing its hunger or enduring the cold. I feel a sense of pity for them. The cold air coming down from the mountains is quite chilly in the evening. I'll have to go out to observe them again tomorrow, and if necessary, I'll think about retreaving it and letting it pupate at home.

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Photo 2021-11-13