Caterpillar to Chrysalis!

It has been a couple of years since we have captured a caterpillar in order to observe it's metamorphosis, so I decided to collect one from the dill in the garden, in order to watch the process all over again. It is a fascinating one! These days, one can find all sorts of information on the web to help inquiring minds know what to do.

When we first began homeschooling in the early 90's, we bought the book Pets in a Jar by Seymour Simon to help give us direction. I highly recommend this book!

Notice the little "rope" hammock this 'pillar has made while it 'hangs out' during the metamorphosis ~



This way, it can spin and change while it it suspended from the stick. In the past, we have had caterpillars attach themselves to the lid of the jar for the big change, but usually, they attach to a stick. This process seems to happen very quickly, going from nothing to green shell before one even has a chance to notice it. I think we caught the change one time, and it was bizarre and magical!



Behold! Change has begun.


Another view ~ I think it is fascinating how the yellow spots from the caterpillar have now been replaced as bumps in a hard shell of a chrysalis.



View from the other side ~

We've been homeschooling for a long time, our two oldest are married and have their own homes, but this process (and the subtleties of God's creation that we oft-times miss) never, ever cease to amaze me!

Javamom