Butterfly Family!

Last year, we raised a little butterfly family and got the opportunity to learn all about their transformation from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally to insect!  You can read more about that and watch their release here.  When Sydney received 15 more for her birthday this year,  we were up for the it! 

This year, both girls kept a nature journal to document their transformation.  Here is a photo of their habitat where we observe the little guys.  On the left are the 8 chrysalis (only 8 out of the 10 caterpillars survived) and on the right are the other 5 in the habitat we used last year.  It seemed to take longer for them to go from each stage last year, I'm not sure if it's because we obseved them in late Fall or if it's because of our super humid weather but the caterpillars ate A LOT and grew quickly. 

The girls enjoyed documenting their progress and naming each one...

Yesterday morning, we woke to find three painted lady butterflies, just hatched.  I'm really hoping to see a few actually emerge from their chrysalis this year.  The ones in the right habitat are shaking a lot inside of their chrysalis (a natural defense mechanism) and I'm hopeful we'll spot them as they emerge.   When they first come out, they are still for a while.  "How would you feel if you just got out of a chrysalis Mom?"  Sydney said....good point!

We're excited to watch their first movements....mostly walking up and down the netting...

We prepared their "feast" of fresh flowers, sprinkled with sugar water and oranges.  We read they also love watermelon so they will be dining on that at some point this week as well!

We are anxious for the other new arrivals!