Another fun activity from last summer....... I had heard about butterfly kits some time ago, and thought the kids might enjoy it! Maylee got a kit for her birthday in June (along with a great Cat in the Hat learning book about butterflies) and we sent for the caterpillars by mail not long after. The kit comes with a mesh butterfly house, and a code to order the caterpillars online... then they come ready to go with food in a container in the mail. We all thought it was so cool to watch this miraculous transformation so up close!!
Hello caterpillars!
After eating and growing about five days, they hung upside down for a while in a "J"...
and not long after formed chrysalids!
The chrysalids are attached to a thin sheet of paper, which you pin to the side of the butterfly house
They remain as chrysalids for about a week. When the butterflies are about to emerge, the chrysalis changes color
Our first butterfly to emerge! They recommend putting fruit and/or flowers in the house for them to eat
All five of our caterpillars made the transformation to butterflies!
Alejandro was super interested in our little flying friends! We had to keep the butterflies behind a closed door away from him at night!
After observing them, it was time to release them! This was during Lainie and Gary's visit, so Lainie was there too when we set them free! The painted lady butterflies in this kit are almost ubiquitous around the world where it's warm enough.
Rylan was able to get one to crawl onto his hand on the way out!
So amazing and special! We're planning to order more caterpillars and do this again this summer :)
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