V. annabella Rearing Notes (9/19/16-9/26/16)

The second installment of rearing notes for a large group of wild caught West Coast Ladies (Vanessa annabella) found mostly as eggs on wild, introduced mallow (Malva). ​

---

Rearing notes 9/19/16-9/26/16:

9/26:

9/25:

• The yellow morph fifth instar looks amazing!
• The past few days have not been too great with individuals dying everyday, but today was even worse due to the hot weather; the mallow leaves emit so much condensation and wilt easily even with a water tube and closed container that the sanitation and ventilation is absolutely horrible (very high humidity) and at least one or two were dead in every dish

9/24:

Fourth instar

Third instar

Second instar

First instar

• Now have individuals spread across all instars

9/23:

• Twelve hatched; unfortunately, many of the newborns that have hatched over the past few days have died for some reason (either desiccation or too much humidity?) 
• Interesting yellow morph fifth instar newly molted today

9/22:

• Seven hatched
• Chrysalises from 9/11-14 now pharate

9/21:

• Found six eggs and one first instar
• Seven hatched
• Interesting color morphs: yellow-striped (top) and red-orange (bottom)

9/20:

9/19:

• Found a fifth instar and 24 eggs
• Currently four fifth instars with interesting color variations
• Pharate eggs in last row

- Brian