The caterpillars have gone through their instars, and are ready to start the process of metamorphosis into a butterfly. One caterpillar has hidden his chrysalis well, or somehow made his way outdoors under the screen door. Four of the caterpillars created, or are in the process of creating, their chrysalis cases on the screens and walls.
The caterpillars stiffen into this comma shape for quite awhile before the transformation to chrysalis takes place.
When the chrysalis forms it has quite an alien look.
Three of the caterpillars chose well and are five or six feet above the floor.
This one chose a terrible spot. He is only three feet up, on the doorjamb, exactly where the everyone passes when they go outdoors. I cut the bottom off a yogurt cup and used duct tape to place it around the unwise caterpillar as a barrier. Hopefully, I will be able to remove it when the time comes for him to emerge. I am hoping to post some photographs of black swallowtail in a few weeks.
MINDING MY P'S WITH Q 
Wow, it must be nice watching them emerge into beautiful butterflies!
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I can’t wait Arlene…I don’t have anything in the next few weeks that will keep me away from home for too many hours so I’m hoping I see a lot of them meet the world.
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Thank you for posting this emerging transformation. I am enjoying it so much!
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Thanks Ruthie…so am I, and I was able to show my grand-daughter today what one looked like up close. She enjoys Eric Carle’s story about ‘The Hungry Caterpillar,’ now she has seen one up close and in person, although she noticed right away it was a different color. She is four and I’m impressed she noticed the difference. I hope she always loves butterflies.
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I am happy you are once again the guardian of swallowtail caterpillars. With the experience you acquired last year, all of them should successfully transition to butterflies. Marvelous! 🙂
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Four have formed chrysalis…three have turned tan, one still brilliant green. I am pretty confident they will be emerging on schedule. Thanks so much Janie.
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And one morning you will awake, go to your screened in porch and see swallowtail butterflies flitting about until you open the exterior door. What a wonderful vision that will be.
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Yes, it will be…hopefully they will come out as staggered as they first formed the chrysalis. The last one finished his/hers today. All very safe except the one near the door. We are being careful not to let the door slam.
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That would make it far easier for you to herd them individually to the door and freedom. Otherwise, it would be the butterfly equivalent of herding cats. 🙂
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Hi Janie, Sorry it took me so long to respond. I’m working on a computer I’m not familiar with and I somehow missed this comment in my WP Reader. If I leave the back door propped open they seem to know what to do, at least the last batch did.
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No need to apologize… you are a very busy person! 😉 Contrast their behavior with flies, once they get into your home, they take forever to get rid of (esp. when you can’t find the fly swatter). 😄
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Precious pictures of caterpillars. When I read of people taking care of the smallest of creatures I think iof the biblical verse-“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. I like to think that our Lord meant even other creatures and not just men when he said this.
Susie
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I like to think so too Susie, thanks so much. I have a computer issue right now…my cord won’t charge the laptop…not sure if I can keep posting, but right now I’m using my husband’s computer. The keyboard is different and that is throwing me off a bit. Kathy
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They seem to have a ‘mind’ of their own.
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They do…although three of them are almost exactly the same amount of space above the floor. If you measured it would be within an inch of each other. I don’t know why the fourth decided to be different.
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