The Life Cycle of the Butterfly
1st and 2nd Class have been learning about the life cycle of the butterfly in science recently. We bought in a kit from Insect Lore in the UK. They sent us all we would need to observe the life cycle of the butterfly as they change from egg to caterpillar to chrysalide (pupa) to butterfly)
Our five tiny caterpillars arrived on Monday April 15th. At first they were moving very little and we weren't even sure if they were alive. Then they became more active and we were delighted that they were all alive. They eat the tan coloured food at the bottom of the jar.
They began to spin a lot of web and we were afraid they were caught up in it but they seem to escape from the web. This webbing is normal and the caterpillars use it to help them cling to plants and to protect themselves by pulling leaves around themselves to hide from predators.
Two weeks after arriving they have grown huge, perhaps ten times their size when they arrived. They seem to be taking an interest in the underside of the lid of the cup so we think they may be about to form their chrysalide.
Our five tiny caterpillars arrived on Monday April 15th. At first they were moving very little and we weren't even sure if they were alive. Then they became more active and we were delighted that they were all alive. They eat the tan coloured food at the bottom of the jar.
They began to spin a lot of web and we were afraid they were caught up in it but they seem to escape from the web. This webbing is normal and the caterpillars use it to help them cling to plants and to protect themselves by pulling leaves around themselves to hide from predators.
Two weeks after arriving they have grown huge, perhaps ten times their size when they arrived. They seem to be taking an interest in the underside of the lid of the cup so we think they may be about to form their chrysalide.