Last year, in May 2020, an exciting event unfolded right in my backyard: I observed an Atala Blue butterfly laying its eggs on a coontie plant. Living here for about ten years, my encounters with Atalas were initially sporadic, just a few wandering individuals. However, after planting coontie, their visits became more frequent, and I even started noticing groups of caterpillars. Yet, piecing together their complete life cycle, from egg to butterfly, remained an elusive puzzle.
This time, circumstances allowed me to finally witness and document the entire transformation. The unusual quiet of the summer, with fewer distractions from work, school, and the usual hustle of life, provided the perfect opportunity to closely monitor these backyard wonders. What followed was a fascinating month of observation, resulting in a complete photographic record of the Atala Blue butterfly’s life cycle in a suburban Florida garden.
Atala Blue Butterfly Eggs on Coontie Plant
May 20, 2020: A detailed photo of a butterfly egg clutch, showcasing approximately a dozen Atala Blue butterfly eggs meticulously laid on a vibrant green coontie leaf. The full clutch contained nearly 40 eggs.
From Tiny Eggs to Voracious Caterpillars
The initial eggs were laid in May. While I missed capturing the very first hatch in early June, I soon discovered the next generation underway. It seems a new batch emerged while I wasn’t looking! This allowed me to photograph the early instar caterpillar stage.
Early Instar Atala Caterpillar on Coontie Leaf
June 24, 2020: A close-up photo of a butterfly caterpillar, specifically an early instar Atala Blue caterpillar, captured in Boca Raton, FL. The tiny larva is seen on a coontie plant leaf, its primary food source.
Atala caterpillars are known for their gregarious feeding habits. This social behavior is a survival strategy, as their bodies contain toxins that deter predators. Gathering in large numbers amplifies this defense – any predator unfortunate enough to sample one will quickly learn to avoid the rest. The caterpillars pictured below are likely only three to four days older than the solitary early instar, yet their size difference is already significant.
Group of Atala Caterpillars Feeding on Coontie
June 24, 2020: A photograph of a group of Atala Blue butterfly caterpillars, the next generation, feeding communally on coontie leaves in Boca Raton, Florida. A single lacewing egg is also visible beneath the leaf, highlighting the natural pest control in action.
These caterpillars are specialists, feeding exclusively on the leaves of coontie and related cycads. Crucially, coontie is native to South Florida, making its availability vital for the Atala’s survival. The growing popularity of native plant gardening has been a significant positive factor for this butterfly species. Interestingly, while many exotic cycads have been tested, Atala caterpillars show a strong preference for native coontie, which contains higher levels of cycasin, and these are more attractive to the larvae.
The Transformation within the Pupa
The pupal stage of the Atala Blue is quite fascinating. Initially, the pupa reveals markings from the late instar caterpillar through its casing.
Early Stage Atala Pupa
June 16, 2020: A photo of a butterfly pupa, an Atala Blue pupa in its early stage of formation, photographed in Boca Raton, Florida. The pupa displays markings from the caterpillar stage.
After a few days, the pupa’s casing hardens, taking on a more solid appearance. The transformation inside continues, unseen but essential.
Mid-Stage Atala Pupa
June 21, 2020: A photograph capturing an Atala Blue butterfly pupa a couple of weeks into its development. This image, taken in Boca Raton, FL, illustrates that while the pupa appears formed externally, the metamorphosis inside is still underway.
As the final stages of metamorphosis approach, the pupa develops a distinctive two-tone appearance. This is due to the developing black wings becoming visible through the pupal shell, hinting at the butterfly within.
Late Stage Atala Pupa Showing Wing Development
June 24, 2020: A photo of a butterfly pupa, an Atala Blue pupa in its late stage, nearly ready to emerge. The developing black wings are visible through the shell, a sign of the imminent transformation, taken in Boca Raton, Florida.
According to research featured in Featured Creatures (Koi & Hall, 2015), the droplets sometimes observed on the pupa are bitter-tasting, a curious detail of this stage.
Emergence and Flight: The Butterfly’s Debut
Finally, the moment arrives for the butterfly to emerge, or eclose, from the pupal casing constructed by the caterpillar.
Freshly Eclosed Atala Blue Butterflies
June 24, 2020: A photo of freshly eclosed Atala Blue butterflies in the early morning light in Boca Raton, Florida. One butterfly rests beside its empty pupal case, with another pupa still intact below, capturing the moment of emergence.
In the early morning, a newly emerged butterfly rests beside its empty pupal case. At this stage, their wings are still furled and crumpled, not yet expanded to their full size and beauty.
Atala Butterfly with Unexpanded Wings – Side View
June 24, 2020: A side view photo of a butterfly, a freshly eclosed Atala Blue, showing its wings still needing to expand. The image highlights the delicate, crumpled state of the wings just after emergence, before they are filled with hemolymph and dried, photographed in Boca Raton, FL.
Here’s a top-down view showcasing the unexpanded wings more clearly.
Atala Butterfly with Unexpanded Wings – Top View
June 24, 2020: A top view photo of a butterfly, a freshly eclosed Atala Blue butterfly with wings not yet pumped up. This image provides a clear view of the unexpanded wings from above, taken in Boca Raton, Florida.
Over just a few minutes, the wings begin to inflate with hemolymph, gradually taking on a more recognizable shape. The butterfly in the next photo is mid-way through this wing expansion process.
Atala Butterfly Wings Partially Expanded
June 24, 2020: A photo of an Atala Blue butterfly, freshly eclosed, with wings almost fully pumped up with hemolymph. The image captures the stage where the wings are nearing complete expansion, taken in Boca Raton, Florida.
Once fully expanded, the wings need to dry and harden. Then, finally, the Atala Blue butterfly is ready for its first flight.
Atala Blue Butterfly Ready to Fly
June 24, 2020: A photo of an Atala Blue butterfly, freshly eclosed, with wings fully pumped up and ready for flight. This image captures the butterfly in its final stage of preparation, poised to take flight for the first time from Boca Raton, Florida.
