This year, we decided to try something new. We ordered some painted lady caterpillars with the hopes they would turn into butterflies before our very eyes. It turned out to be very neat. First comes the cup with 5 caterpillars. They crawl around and eat the special food, and then eventually they crawl up top and hang upside down with a slight curl. Then after a few days a beautiful gold chrysalis forms. You can see both in the photo. A few of the chrysalis fell down so we weren’t sure what would happen. After all 5 have formed, they get moved to the little cage like pavilion.
The next phase is they emerge from the chrysalis and turn into butterflies. We were able to have the experience of actually watching one coming out. I saw just a hint of a wriggle and it all happened within a few minutes. That was the only one we got to see emerge. After feeding the butterflies for a couple weeks, it warmed up enough to set them free. I wish I had a camera for that. They didn’t come out so the girls and I each held out our finger and the butterflies climbed on. The girls each held theirs for several minutes and then at the same exact moment they both flew off. Very amazing. We will definitely do this again.