Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Three's Company

Our annual caterpillar raising is upon us. While I generally think "science experiment" is a nasty word combination, we have good luck in the creepy-crawly department.

This go-round we have two swallowtail caterpillars named Roz and Mike (in honor of a favorite movie). While they start out as tiny as grains of rice, we acquired ours in the "big and fat" stage, almost ready to enter their chrysalises, we think.

We daily clean out their containers, making sure they have wet sponges and fresh leaves. Several times, we have jostled the caterpillars and seen them stick out their orange "horns" in defense.



Yesterday, a dear friend brought by a companion for our duo, a monarch caterpillar! (His name is Sully.) We are excited to observe this new variety of critter, with vivid black, yellow, and white stripes. This morning we were rewarded (if that is the proper term) to see our new caterpillar poop a lovely green. My friend reports that only the last monarchs of the season migrate to Mexico so we may be raising missionaries!


How beautiful is God's creation! We are eagerly awaiting the transformation of these crawling wonders into graceful fluttering beauties!


Kristin

4 comments:

  1. Beautiful absolutely! I LOVE butterflies. Have a major thing for them. Sooo very cool when I researched on them a few months back their are so many spiritual comparisons to caterpillars becoming butterflies and significant meaning behind it. LOVE IT. Cant wait to see either.

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  2. Missionaries, I love that idea !!!
    They are such spiritual insects.

    Now tomato horn worms on the other hand... eeeeeegh!!!! I am now bugged out.

    I cant wait for the butterflies :)

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  3. I don't think I've ever seen a caterpillar like that. So beautiful. I'll have to show my kids this. :)

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  4. HOw adorable!! Whenever I see one of those yellow and black striped things I think of Little Einsteins. Ever seen that one?

    Whats that? You actually entertain your kids instead of plopping them down in front of a DVD player?

    I see.

    Blessings! :)
    Amanda

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