The Pupa

Last week was so busy that I didn't have time to post about another exciting event that took place at our house. Our caterpillar turned into a pupa! This is the second time I have witnessed the process and again I was in awe! It is an incredible thing to watch. I have chronicled it here in pictures but if you really want to watch film of a caterpillar turning into a pupa - then I recommend going to my old post where you can link to videos online. The caterpillar is about two weeks old at this point.
Here you see it building the silk mat or anchor where it will hang in the shape of a "J." It has moved from the milkweed plant to a stick that we put in the bowl.
It hangs in this "J" for several hours. For the last 30 minutes before it turns into a pupa - it starts to...pulsate almost. The skin starts to ripple.
Slowly the skin slides up the body and eventually the skin splits at the bottom of the "J"




After the skin has completely peeled off, the pupa starts to wiggle and rotate on its anchor until the skin falls off.

After it finally stopped wiggling around. It will take almost 12 hours to harden Into this: It is a beautiful jade green with gold spots.
We have about another week before the butterfly will hatch. Something to look forward to!