Butterfly Predictions

Today we made predictions of what we think the butterflies are going to look like when they emerge. We used oil pastels to show our predictions. They will be hung up outside the classroom. We'll find out soon if we're correct!

Noa's Observations

This morning, Mrs. Friedrich put the cocoons into the butterfly house! The butterfly house has holes so the new butterflies can breathe. 

They are stuck on from a cloth that is pinned onto the house. There is also a fake flower on top of water and sugar. They think it is nectar so they drink from it. I think some of the butterflies will be here in 3 days and some in 5 days. The cocoons are wiggling a lot more!

Jacob's Observations

I notice that the cocoons look a little lighter than dark chocolate. The cocoons have orange dots on them. I think they might be soft. I see skin on the bottom of the cup. All of the caterpillars are in their cocoons now. I think the butterflies might come out in a week or three days (or so).

Ryan's Observations

I observed that one whole cup of the caterpillars turned into their chrysalises. In cup two, four of the six caterpillars are now in their cocoons. Two of them are not ready but they are working hard. The cocoons are brown with a black stripe down the middle. They also have brownish-yellowish spikes. They are almost ready to split their skin and become a pupa. I think they will split their skin by Monday.

What were the caterpillars up to over the weekend?

Using a time lapse camera, we were able to get some images of the caterpillars over the weekend. We took one still image every five minutes, an then turned it into the video. Focus on the left cup and you will see the first caterpillar making it's cocoon!

Shoshie's Observations

The caterpillars are humongous! There is lots of chewed up food everywhere! Some of the caterpillars are still making their way to the top. In one cup, they are all at the top. Most of the caterpillars in that cup are in their "J position." One of them has started to form its cocoon. It looks different than the others. You can't see it's fur anymore and it's getting harder. In one of the cups, I can see webs everywhere. The caterpillars are moving a little when they go into their "J positions."

Sasha's Observations

The food is really piling up in the cup. The caterpillars are getting much longer and taller. They are most black and I see a white stripe on their backs. Their bellies are gray. It looks like they are really hairy. Their heads are black. I think they will make their cocoons next week.