I know that I am not supposed to get too attached to my 'pillars, but it does happen when you take care of them and see them grow.
However, today, one little girl finally gave up the fight to live.
Dudette, my little one, had a very difficult moult into the next skin on Tuesday this week. Somehow, for some reason, something was going terribly wrong with her moult and the old skin would not come off. I managed to assist in the very last part of the skin coming off toward her rear end, however, it seemed that things were simply "just not right". At further inspection, I could see that her "mandible" was askew to the left of the head.
And due to this, the caterpillar did not eat. Or could not eat appears to be the best way to put it. I did my best to try and make things better for the 'pillar by providing the milkweed liquid that comes off the end of the leaves when removed from the plant, so that she could "drink" it in. I could see the mandible moving to take the liquid in and the 'pillar was eager to do this.
However, when it came to eating, there was nothing that could be done. I even mushed up the milkweed leaves thinking that maybe this would be a way for her to eat. And to no avail.
I knew what the eventual outcome would be and today, Dudette is now in the Land of Abundant Milkweed.
Rest well little one - you tried so hard. MNN
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