Chrysalis

Well I no longer need to collect leaves to feed hungry caterpillars! Here is what they look like now. I can only photograph one since the other one made its chrysalis under a leaf where I can't see him.

This is the first caterpillar on Thursday evening.

This is both caterpillars on Friday.

By Friday evening both caterpillars looked like this. The lines that look like cracks on the jar is the silk that it spun to attach itself to the jar. Abby keeps asking my "Why is the jar cracked?"

Caterpillars are still eating and growing

Here are some more photos and a video of the caterpillars.

They are quickly eating everything I put in the jar. We all enjoy watching them eat.

Monday - Aug 25

Tuesday - needed to replace milkweed

Wednesday - they were eating fast, and I had to replace milkweed, again!

Robert and Abby watching them eat.


Thursday - Aug. 28th

I believe they have reached their full size and will soon form their chrysalis.

Update on monarch caterpillars

The caterpillars have been busy this week eating, pooping, and growing. Today we moved them to a larger home. Abby and Robert have been full of questions about them. “When will they fly? What is that black stuff? Can I touch them? Why is there a hole in the leaf?” and many more. By the end of next week they should start forming their chrysalis. Here are more photos of their growth.

Thursday, August 21st

The new home - a used pickle jar.

Larger caterpillar - Saturday, Aug. 23rd

Smaller caterpillar - Saturday, Aug. 23rd