We have just finished up our first experience with having a "pet." Davin got two caterpillars a few weeks ago through preschool. He got to bring them home the day after we went to the zoo, and so he named them "Jack Sparrow" and "Komodo Dragon," in honor of the new animal the zoo will be getting soon. We put them in the china cabinet, safely behind glass-everyone can look, but no one can touch.
After more than a week, they formed their crysalids. Which, by the way, is really kid of gross. They hang down in a "J" from the lid of their cups, goo over their head, and then shed their legs and hair. They leave this nasty little hairball in their cups with all of their "frass".
We moved them into our bug cage, and waited. Ours took about 10 days to emerge. One Sunday morning we woke up to find Jack Sparrow had emerged. Komodo Dragon came out while the kids were eating breakfast. Davin was already staying home sick from church, so he got to enjoy watching his butterflies dry, and then rest on the twigs. We also did some butterfly research to figure out what kind we had, Painted Lady Butterflies.
After Eric, Aidan, and Eme got home from church, we set them free. It was a good experience for all of us.
2 comments:
Awesome pics! What a cool thing for the kids to watch (albeit occasionally gross). Next year we'll have to do that too.
My kids have been begging for a pet! This just might be it, of couse letting them fly away is the process too. where did you get them?
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