Wednesday, October 6, 2010

My first Chrysalis

Yesterday afternoon my largest caterpillar made it’s way to the top of the cage….spun a web and anchored it’s hind feet to the top.

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A few hours later it dropped into the “J” position….and remained that way all night.

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By mid day it looked as if it was getting a bit fatter…you can see that even it’s feet look fat……every now and then there would be a little movement.

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Around 4 this afternoon it started to get very active….trying to shed it’s skin for the last time.  085cs

The caterpillar had been changing inside it’s skin to a pupa….it started moving around and the skin eventually moved up to the top087cs

Then it started moving a lot more until it had finally shed the skin. At this point it is very soft.090cs

But within an hour it will harden into a protective shell.

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In 9-14 days I will have hatched my first Monarch Butterfly.

Watch the gyrations as it shed’s it’s skin and the pupa emerges..

6 comments:

  1. Amazing! Thanks for the video! How does it feel to be the mama of a 'soon to be' Monarch??

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  2. Carol, I'm so excited for you to have this experience! Aren't they amazing creatures? Can't wait to see the butterfly that emerges.

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  3. Amazing pictures and video Carol. The sort of thing most people will never see, and you've captured it all beautifully.

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  4. That is absolutely amazing! Congrats on your first pupa. This is a Great project. I'm in awe of this process of metamorphosis.

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  5. Hi Carol,
    Are you raising them?
    Cool set of pictures with the whole process!

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  6. Chris..I hadn't planned to...just got carried away.

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