Petey as a Butterfly

After thirteen days in his chrysalis, and twenty-five days since I found him, Petey is flying free.  He is a beautiful Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.  He actually dropped out of his chrysalis this morning, and started to dry his wings.  We spent just a few minutes saying our good-byes, then he bravely flew away.

The underside of Petey's wings

Close up of Petey's eye and proboscis, which he will unroll and use like a straw to sip nectar and water. Benjamin told me all about the proboscis, he is raising a caterpillar too!

Petey ready to fly.