Best Reference and Teaching Source

It is kind of an older book, but it is very helpful and full of activities and information on raising butterflies. It covers the life cycle and development of Vanessa Cardui so it became a much needed resource for this blog.

National Science Resources Center. 1992. The life cycle of butterflies: Teacher's guide. Burlington, NC: Carolina Biological Supply Company.

Finally flying?

Today, I went in to go check on my butterfly's progress and found an empty chrysalis but no butterfly. Unfortunately, someone had taken out all of the butterflies that were in the greenhouse. I am really sad that I missed the most exciting part of the life cycle of my little Heraldo. Since I did not get to see this part of the process, I used reference materials to gather information on what happens in this final stage.
According to "The Butterfly Emerges" in the Life Cycle of Butterflies, it only takes about 30 seconds for the butterfly to escape little chrysalis. Since it has been crammed in such a small space, the wings of the butterfly are very wrinkled and crumpled. It takes about two or three hours of resting for the butterfly to force fluid in its wings in order to expand and harden them. Interestingly enough, the butterfly has a broken proboscis when it first emerges. The proboscis is how the butterfly feeds on nectar. During the resting period, the butterfly has to connect the proboscis through its interlocking spines.
The final step for the new butterfly is the expulsion of waste tissue left over from time it spent in a chrysalis. This is called meconium and although it is red, it is not blood.
In the end, the butterfly should be able to fly away and feed on sweet nectar from plants and fruits. It is a shame that I never got to see my butterfly fly away. Maybe he looks like this up in heaven....

Stuck in a Chysalis

My caterpillar could be a butterfly by now, but I have no idea since I'm unable to observe him in the greenhouse. He is locked in the science building greenhouse for the weekend. I'm hoping that when I go and check on him tomorrow, that he will be butterfly! I have heard reports from my friends that more of their caterpillars have turned into butterflies on Friday, so maybe that means there is hope for mine.

Any Day Now

If you can't tell, I'm not a very patient person when it comes to exciting things like Heraldo emerging as a butterfly. He has been in there way longer then was predicted. With the light coming in through the windows, it is clear that he is no longer liquid mush in the chrysalis. It is very faint, but I can make out the wings. Hopefully, this means he will come out tonight or tomorrow. The chrysalis is still slightly darker, but still see-through enough that I can see his faint little outline. I'm excited to come back tomorrow and see what things have happened overnight!

Counting the Days...

Day 12 in a chrysalis and it is beginning to look different. It seems to be a bit darker. I have read that this is a sign that he might be coming out soon. The size is the same before. Perhaps he will come out tomorrow??

No One Likes Waiting

No one particularly enjoys waiting for some big exciting event to happen, but often the extra waiting time makes the end result that much more exciting. I am hoping the same will be true for Heraldo as he is currently been in the chrysalis stage for 11 days and there is no sign that he will be emerging any day soon. The chrysalis is about an inch long, a yellow-brown color and still appears a little glossy or shiny. Maybe the butterfly he is becoming will emerge soon!

Waiting...

Today has marked a week and half (10 days) since Heraldo went into a chrysalis. I haven't noted any big changes, but it almost seems as though his chrysalis is shrinking in size. I don't know if it is supposed to do that, or if it means that he is dying or what. The color is a brown-green with some shiny flecks in it. If I had to predict when he would come out, I would say Saturday. That would make it nearly 2 weeks, which is past the predicted 10 day period of remaining in a chrysalis.