Sunday, June 8, 2008

Caterpillar Soup

These are some of the last photos taken before my little Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar turned into a chrysalis. This particular caterpillar is one of the fattest, healthiest ones I have seen in a while.






On June 4th and 5th he started eating less and upon closer examination I noticed a fine hair-like substance that he had spun on the stem of the fennel. Here is what it looks like up close.








This is the last photo I
took of those marvelous toes...


And that beautiful plump body...


Notice the two white strings. You will see them later.


I had to go to a doctor's appointment and left the house at 11:30am. At 5pm I returned home

only to find...



The soup stage has begun and the little rascal did it when I was away for a few hours!

In about two weeks we will see a beautiful butterfly. Right now, he is going through metamorphosis. Everything inside the chrysalis is turning into mush/soup. I will keep you posted...

5 comments:

Rachel said...

Soup? What soup? You didn't actually eat him, did you?

Cool pictures, though. I can't wait to show Peter and Banna Boo!

Anonymous said...

Hi Grammy! Where are you? Happy Birthday! (Peter says this to everyone). I sleep in a cocoon, too. I like Grammy.

Baby Gabe is sleeping in the rocking bed.

Banna boo is sleeping upstairs. Banna boo is grouchy. You are silly, Grammy!

Anonymous said...

Ellen, I LOVE what you are doing with the butterfly world! I'm amazed at the interesting facts. I also love the toes. Your babies are beautiful.

Anonymous said...

By the way I really meant your grandbabies!

jhb said...

Great pictures, and thanks for the organization and commentary. Studying this relative to human globalization. ;-]