Caterpillar to Butterfly

My sister Nancy and her family sent Mom the best gift for Mother's Day this year - a live Nature Gift.  The day before Mother's Day we received this package at the door which said open immediately.  Inside were two covered cups, and inside those were teeny tiny caterpillars, 6 in each cup.  So we read the directions and the life cycle of our "Painted Lady" butterflies began.   

Cups with caterpillars from www.NatureGifts.com

With our kit of 2 cups of caterpillars we also received a pop-up habitat which we hung the caterpillars after they spun themselves into the Chrysalis.  We were able to observe the process. 

 This is the "J" hang 

Each caterpillar eats and eats the food in the bottom of the cup and then eventually climbs to the lid of the cup, spins some silk to attach to the lid and then forms a J, then immediately they begin to change into the chrysalis.  It may seem like nothing is happening but this is where the magic begins.  24 hours after all the caterpillars are snug within their chrysalis we had to transfer them from the cup to the habitat.  This was a little tense as you want to make sure NOT to shake or jiggle to much so none of them fall off the attached lid. But we had success!  We had 12 chrysalis in all - 6 on each lid.  But only 9 became butterflies.

 Our first butterfly!

One week after we transferred the chrysalis to the habitat we had our first butterfly - it was Memorial Day! Our instructions tell us to put pieces of watermelon or banana in the bottom of the habitat.  This butterfly is "tasting" watermelon. 

 One of the Painted Lady Butterflies - ready for flight

Did you know that the normal life span of a butterfly is is 2 to 4 weeks.  They will not breed in the habitat and must be released in order for the cycle of life to begin again. 

 I'm not sure why this one was so comfortable on my hand and finger,

but she is beautiful!

Mom released 6 of her new little painted ladies and she caught this

 photo just as the last one was ready to bid farewell.  

Mom said it was sad and exciting all in the same moment. 

And the next day, the last 3 were ready to take flight as well.  

Nancy described this wonderful experience best.  She said it was a life lesson in struggle and victory.  We had such a great time tending to this little family of caterpillars - kind of ugly to look at and watch, but then they struggle to get to the lid of the cup and form their "J" hang.  We knew that a few days later beauty would find victory and they immerse from the tight confines of the chrysalis.   Our Painted Ladies were beautiful and we will forever remember this exciting experience!  Thank you Clark family!