The Perfect Pets!

Our little caterpillars turned into chrysalises last week and now we have watched many of them emerge out and become pretty painted lady butterflies. I have to admit that it is an amazing process to watch... I may even be a little bit obsessed with the miracle of it all. There were a few days that I literally could not get myself to do anything but stare at them for fear that I'd miss the change.  It happened to fast! 

 After they each turn into a chrysalis, you pin the paper from the top of the cup to the pavilion and wait about a week for them to emerge as butterflies. Here are what a few of our looked like. We started with 10 caterpillars but one was always super tiny, the runt - so we named him Wilbur. I thought he wouldn't survive. After the other 4 in his cup had been chrysalises for a full week, I finally pinned them up and then wouldn't you know it he changed in the cup but had nothing to attach to. So i set him on the bottom of the pavilion and don't know if he will make it to the butterfly stage. 

See him just laying on the bottom there...pretty sad!

I got one of them coming out on video. I've tried and tried to get the video to download but no luck. So just imagine that cool part!

 After they get their wings all opened up and dried off, they drip this extra dye from the wings. It was a little creepy at first and seriously looked like they were bleeding.

Then they are pretty little painted lady butterflies.

Nine of our 10 made it to the butterfly stage, only Wilbur hasn't changed. We let them go today.
The kids were so excited to actually hold them.

 It has been so fun having these here. Thanks a million Kim for buying them for us! They have been the perfect pets. Super interesting for 3 weeks, then you just set them free!