Chrysalides
We are now the proud care takers of two chrysalides. We found these two this morning.
This afternoon we moved them to fancy new digs in a Butterfly Habitat. It should take 7-10 days for a butterfly or moth to emerge. I found pictures of our caterpillars on line, but I could not find a description of what they would turn into other than "Lepidoptera," which could be either a butterfly or a moth.
I did some research on Wikipedia last night (in my defense, we are not to the "Bb for Butterfly" lessons yet...you will remember these were eating my father-in-law's parsley so we are doing our Butterfly unit prematurely.)
-Butterflies and other creatures who go through complete metamorphosis go through 4 stages. Embryo - Larva - Pupa - Imago
-Our caterpillars (larva) have changed to a chrysalis (pupa)
-My primary question: How does the chrysalis form. I was under the impression that the caterpillar had to spin the chrysalis around itself (but that would be a cocoon), and after watching their behavior it just didn't seem possible. The answer I found is that the larva transforms into a pupa (the chrysalis) by anchoring itself to the underside of a leaf or other object. Then it molts for the last time! The chrysalis is "under" their last layer of caterpillar skin.
The most interesting thing I found:
-The term chrysalis is derived from the metallic gold-coloration found in the pupae of many butterflies.
Amazing!
This afternoon we moved them to fancy new digs in a Butterfly Habitat. It should take 7-10 days for a butterfly or moth to emerge. I found pictures of our caterpillars on line, but I could not find a description of what they would turn into other than "Lepidoptera," which could be either a butterfly or a moth. 
I did some research on Wikipedia last night (in my defense, we are not to the "Bb for Butterfly" lessons yet...you will remember these were eating my father-in-law's parsley so we are doing our Butterfly unit prematurely.) -Butterflies and other creatures who go through complete metamorphosis go through 4 stages. Embryo - Larva - Pupa - Imago
-Our caterpillars (larva) have changed to a chrysalis (pupa)
-My primary question: How does the chrysalis form. I was under the impression that the caterpillar had to spin the chrysalis around itself (but that would be a cocoon), and after watching their behavior it just didn't seem possible. The answer I found is that the larva transforms into a pupa (the chrysalis) by anchoring itself to the underside of a leaf or other object. Then it molts for the last time! The chrysalis is "under" their last layer of caterpillar skin.
The most interesting thing I found:
-The term chrysalis is derived from the metallic gold-coloration found in the pupae of many butterflies.
Common crow (Euploea core) chrysalis
illustrating the Greek origin of the term : χρυσός (chrysós) for gold
Amazing!
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