Jamie was particularly interested in all the butterflies and moths we found in the yard and elsewhere this Spring, so I ordered her a butterfly growing kit online. It came with a little jar containing caterpillars for Painted Lady butterflies, the food they gorge themselves on and instructions. We already had a little net house from a birthday present Gloria has received one year.
Jamie really enjoyed observing the growth of the caterpillars and the transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis. Out of the 4 caterpillars we received, 3 made it through this stage. One attached to the top of the container like it was supposed by somehow snapped off over night and did not survive. There was about a week difference between when the largest and smallest caterpillar started making its chrysalis. The last one spent a number of days running around the bottom of the container constantly. Because of his incessant running, we named him Speedy, even though he was the last to transform.
When the time was right, each came out of its chrysalis in turn and was released in the back yard. They all flew away successfully and it was a wonderful thing to witness.
