Caterpillars & Butterflies

Oh boy, did we have an exciting couple of weeks!  First of all, Nicole bought herself an exploring vest and a butterfly tent.  Then, just a day or so later, she stumbled upon a fuzzy caterpillar!  We researched the caterpillar, and she discovered it was Tussock Moth caterpillar.  We found out that it likes oak trees so, we put it in the butterfly tent, gave it some oak leaves, and it went to town eating!

Capturing the fuzzy tussock mother caterpillar

Close inspection of the 7 year old kind!

We then found a monarch caterpillar in our butterfly garden, so we cut off a piece of the milkweed, and stuck the caterpillar in the tent as well.  They were happy friends.

A monarch caterpillar

Soon, I noticed that poor little monarch caterpillar reaching with all of it's might to the side of the cage and I knew what was going to happen.  I gently pushed the milkweed to the side and the caterpillar climbed it's way to the top of the cage and dangled itself upside down for about 48 hours.

Getting ready to do some hard work!

One Saturday afternoon, we were working outside and Hannah was about to get in trouble for being inside and NOT working when she came running out, "The caterpillar is making the Chrysalis!".  Nicole and I knew this would happen fast, so we ran in to watch.  May I just stop here and say that this is one of the most amazing things to witness.  It's so neat to know that this little guy is going to come out looking so much different!

About 3 minutes later, the Chrysalis was made and we went on with life as usual (with an occasional glimpse at the butterfly tent.  I did not have high hopes of this guy ever making it out alive, at least our caterpillar a few years ago never came out.  In the mean time, the tussock moth died.  I feel bad about that, but we couldn't lift the opening without fear of damaging the chrysalis.

And....it's made!

Amazingly, about 10 days later, Nicole noticed something different when she checked on the chrysalis.  It was a different color.  That morning, we checked on the chrysalis every ten minutes and notices the outside was becoming more and more see through.  We could see the wings of the butterfly!

This was when we first noticed the change

About an hour later

An hour or so later again.

Then, something amazing happened!  While our friends Karen and Alex were over, Hannah (again!) noticed the butterfly was trying to come out.  We didn't believe her at first, but then found that she was right.  We not only got to watch the caterpillar make its chrysalis, but we also got to watch the butterfly come out of it!  The kids loved it, and were so patient to watch.  It was truly amazing!

If you look closely, you can see it clinging to whatever is left over of the Chrysalis.

Our little butterfly hung upside down the rest of the day to dry out its wings, and later that night we released him near the butterfly garden.  We left the next day for Naples.  I'm so glad it happened while we were home and got to see it....and that we were able to release it before we left:)

Getting ready to be "Free and in the Wild", as the WildKratts say.