When Amazon has a sale on something educational, I am all over it. Especially when it is living and so hands on!! We ordered the butterfly kit from InsectLore.com via Amazon.com and it arrived quickly with a coupon for caterpillars when we are ready to take care of them. We ordered our caterpillars and they arrived. They were so small when they arrived. They came in this clear tub with a paper and plastic lid and enough food to last till all 5 turned into Chrysalis.
After eating and eating and eating, the caterpillars climbed their way to the top of the tub and attach themselves to the paper lining. They form a J Shape and then they spin their cocoon around themselves. We had one little guy that was definitely the runt of the litter. He took longer to grow and form his cocoon. He was also the last to hatch but we are so happy he did.
5 cocoons transforming into their new life.
Alyssa loved this whole process the most. Right now she wants to be a vet and this was right up her alley. She would spend hours a day looking and watching and enjoying these guys!
After the last cocoon has formed, you wait three days to allow it to harden and complete the gel part of the transformation. Then you transfer it to the inside of the butterfly net that came when you first ordered it. You hang it about 4 inches from the bottom and wait!! And Wait, and wait!!
The first day 2 butterflies emerged within minutes of each other. Another one formed later that day. The last two arrived the next day and it was amazing to see. They are such beautiful butterflies. THey were the Painted Lady Butterflies.
5 empty cocoons!
We waited for the weather to warm up a bit and we set our butterflies free. It was truly the most amazing experience. Alyssa picked them all out of the habitat and we let them just fly off her fingers.
This is something I would love to do again and again and again. We learned so much and we enjoyed the whole process!!
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