Caterpillar Sleep

"It's a caterpillar sleep. It's long and cozy and deep."

(from Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood)

Friday night when I got home from work, I noticed that our Painted Lady caterpillars were crawling to the top of their cup (which was lined with a thin piece of paper) and starting to hang upside down in a "J" formation. On Saturday evening, all but one began its transformation, shedding its final layer of skin, and revealing the chrysalis underneath. I found this so fascinating! Curtis had to make dinner because I just had to sit and watch them. It was truly amazing! Within an hour, they wiggled their way out of their skins. All but one, who was about a day behind the others. He (or she) turned into a chrysalises Sunday evening. You can see him hanging in the "J" shape in the picture on the left, taken Sunday morning. On Monday morning, I opened the cup and pinned the paper liner that they had attached themselves to onto the side of their mesh house. Now we will wait about week as they complete their transformation into butterflies!

~Jen