New Life

For Christmas this past year, Jacob got a "Butterfly Garden" kit. It didn't come with the caterpillars.  It had instructions to send for them when you were ready, and they would come in the mail, so we decided to send for them last month.  They came in a little cup, complete with food and everything.  They sent 5 caterpillars, and they guaranteed that at least 3 of them would turn into butterflies.  We were so excited when we finally received them.

 

I didn't take pictures the first couple of days to show how little the caterpillars were when they arrived, and how much they grew in just a few days' time.  But trust me, they grew at least double in size.  We didn't realize they were going to grow so much.  This next picture is when all of the caterpillars settled at the top of the cup, upside-down, and eventually each entered the pupal stage.  We were excited to see that all 5 caterpillars were getting ready for the big change.

 

 When the caterpillars finally hardened into chrysalids, we were able to open the cup and move them to the "Butterfly Garden."  It's hard to tell from this picture, but the caterpillars had actually spun long silk threads thoughout the cup.  It was pretty cool...and kind-of gross, too.  :)

 



 

Here they are, moved into their new home.  Now we just had to wait until they "hatched."  (I really doubt that's the proper word to use for this process, but you know what I mean, right?) 

 



 

 

Still waiting...but you can see how close they're getting, right?

 



 

The first one is out...the second is just starting to break out...

 



 

 

3 of them are out...

 



 

 

They were kind-of squishy when they first came out...but obviously they were pretty "squished" in their cocoon.  Even now, I'm wondering how they fit in there...

 

All 5 of them have "hatched" now...

 



The butterflies were so pretty when they opened their wings.  They were called Painted Ladies.  The red stuff you see on the netting is left over coloring and fluid from the butterfly's formation.  It's not blood, but it was still kind of gross...

 



 

 

And then a few days later...4 out of the 5 butterflies began to mate!  What the heck?  Already?  Holy Cow!  And I don't really know what else to say about that, so I'll leave it there...

 

ANYWAY...in other news, the butterflies are still flying around and they are beautiful.   But now we have to keep them away from Ziggy.  He has noticed something "flying around" on the kitchen table...Funny dog!

 

 

I don't know what's going to happen with the butterflies.  Their life span is only 2 to 4 weeks, and it's too cold to let them go outside, so for now, we are just feeding them sugar water and oranges, and they seem very content flying around in their little home.  This has been a really cool project though.  The kids have loved it...and so have I! 

 

 (In the meantime, I guess we wait and see if any of the butterflies lay eggs---give me strength!)...