Okay, I know the whole egg/caterpillar thing, but what baffles me is, where do the butterflies come from on a sunny winter day? Yesterday the temperature went up to 60 with nice sunshine, and we had Sulphurs and Admirals flitting about the yard. Where have they been? It has been cold (in the 30's) and overcast, and it's the end of January. Where have these butterflies been hiding so they can come out and fascinate us on a warmer, sunnier day?
Depending on the species, they can overwinter in the chrysalis, egg or caterpillar stage, then come out when the weather is warm enough for their species and continue their cycle. I think there are some who overwinter in the butterfly stage...other than the Monarchs in Mexico, but can't find info on which ones those are. Some species go underground, some tuck themselves into rolled up dead leaves....either still hanging on the tree or laying on the ground. Another reason to not be so persnickety about keeping the fallen leaves raked up. I watched three Gulf Fritillary caterpillars heading to ground back in November. Moth caterpillars mostly go underground, at least the two species of Sphinx moths I have had in my yard do.
