Due to popular demand I have decided to write a weekly progress report on our caterpillar. If you’ve missed all the fun then please click on these two previous posts to bring you up to speed 🙂
When I went to bed last Saturday our new addition to the family was still sitting on a hawthorn leaf, not doing very much and still looking very much like a caterpillar. I’d emailed Guru Gramps and was told ‘don’t worry, any day now he’ll disappear into the earth, cocoon himself and pupate’.
When I came downstairs on Sunday morning, our little caterpillar had had a very busy night. I was very excited to see that he had started to spin his cocoon, not hiding away in the earth, but right on the cling film lid of his home! How amazing, and wonderful to show my son exactly what was happening.
The only downside to this exhibitionism is that my photos aren’t great, but hopefully, it will give you, the reader an idea of what is happening to our little caterpillar friend as he starts the next part of his life cycle.
You can just about make out his legs in the photo’s above. We could actually see him spin his cocoon. It was brilliant. We went off to the Tractor Ted Farm show and wondered what stage he’d be at when we returned.
When we got home he was more cocooned and his shape was changing slightly.
On Monday this week, he’d changed again, definitely more of a cocoon and no longer any visible movement.
Tonight, I’ve been able to peel back the cling film and the cocoon is actually attached to the glass jar. Unfortunately, my camera still struggles to focus very well, but hopefully, you get the idea.
Watch this blog for further updates 🙂
Oh that’s fab. So lovely for Monkey to watch. Miss M has a whole tray of little pots in her classroom at school with a caterpillar hanging from the lid of each one. We were just looking at them this morning actually – can’t wait to see them change.
He did a similar thing at pre-school too, but I’ve never actually seen a caterpillar cocoon itself. Have seen loads that have already pupated, but this has been a real thrill for the whole family
Thanks for the update – it’s fascinating! Really enjoying watching his progress 🙂
Think it’s all going to go quiet now until the nig day, but so chuffed that it all happened in front of our eyes – such a great thing for Monkey to see.
What a great way for Monkey to be able to see nature in action! We have a similar relationship with the white crab spider in our garden….
Oh that’s sounds interesting – don’t know much about spiders – what’s happening?
Oh that’s sounds interesting – don’t know much about spiders – what’s happening with the spider?
What fun! It’s great when we can give our children the chance to learn through experience.
Exactly, it’s wonderful to see his excitement
How cool, I have never seen a caterpillar make its cocoon. Will be lovely to see him come out.
I know, same here. Apparently we need to wait for about 4 weeks 🙂
Ooo how cool is that. Can’t wait to see the beautiful butterfly!
I Know 🙂 Sadly, it will become a rather boring brown moth, but he will be our boring, brown moth!
lovely to do and exciting to watch
He’s wriggling around inside the cocoon today, so wonderful for us to watch.
He’s wriggling around inside the cocoon today, so wonderful for us to watch 🙂
A wonderful process to share with Monkey and I’m rather enjoying your caterpillar update too. I’m am hoping to see Monkey release a lovely butterfly into the garden next week and do chasing after it!
Sadly it will be a dull brown moth – but still a magical experience.
Wow! How amazing for Monkey to be able to watch this! Look forward to the next update 🙂
I know, it’s been such a success
OMG i have never seen this myself what a fab idea for Monkey to be able to see!
I am so pleased you have linked this up with #MagicMoments i cant wait to see what happens!
Glad you liked it 🙂
Magic. We did this a few years ago and it took me right back to my childhood. Great idea to photo and record the transformation!
Me too, my Dad is mad about insects. This is the first time ever that I have seen the actual cocooning process so it’s been great fun
What a brilliant thing to do. I haven’t done anything like this since I was very young. I really must do it for the girls, they would love to watch it and our garden is awash with caterpillars right now 🙂
It’s been so much fun, and really interesting for all of us. Would recommend, mind you it helps having Dad, who took one look at the photo and said – ‘ready to pupate any day’ and knew exactly what it will turn into!