Metamorphosis
It’s an amazing thing to watch this process of caterpillar to butterfly. First they’re tiny…
They eat, sleep, shed several times, and grow restless for the heights…
…then fasten themselves to a good, secure spot.
Next comes the most amazing part. As a child when we did this, I never saw the chrysalis formation happen. I pictured the process as being similar to the moth that spins a cocoon around itself. But the chrysalis is within the caterpillar, waiting to neatly trim away all the stuff the butterfly will no longer need.
Monarch Metamorphosis from Snaphappy on Vimeo.
It takes perhaps a half an hour before the process is really complete.
The old skin, discarded, lies on the ground beneath the finished chrysalis. Now it’s a matter of waiting for a week or 10 days till a butterfly emerges. We have 4 chrysalises and 4 caterpillars at the moment. Hopefully all 8 will emerge as healthy butterflies ready for their trip to Mexico.
One Comment
Dee McGuire
I to watched this as a child. Is great to see it again with more understanding eyes.
Thank you