Caterpillar Update

Looking For A Good Spot

Caterpillar Number Two, shown here industriously climbing the side of the mesh cage, finally stopped roaming and selected a site for his chrysalis close to, but fortunately not actually on, the cage's zippered door.

Number Two is now in the classic "J" shape and should form the chrysalis late today or sometime tomorrow.

When we were watching Mr. Upside Down last year, he took so long to form his chrysalis that we thought he was dead.  His antennae drooped and hung limp, his skin shriveled up and we thought he was a goner for sure.

However, what we didn't know then was that this is a normal part of the process of metamorphosis; the caterpillar is actually forming the chrysalis underneath the outer skin, which it sheds when the chrysalis has formed.  The skin splits and drops away to reveal the chrysalis.

The Monarch chrysalis is a very beautiful thing; it looks like a small green jewel with a rim of golden dots around the top and other gold dots on the body of the chrysalis.

As the butterfly inside the chrysalis matures, the chrysalis grows darker and you can see the orange and black of the Monarch wings forming inside.

It's an amazing process and we love watching it happen.