A miracle!

Yesterday after picking Sophie up from school, I stopped by Walgreens to get her some cold meds (first week of school, you know). Anyway, we saw a cute caterpillar inching its way across the building's wall. When we came back out, it was still there, so we took him home with us to show Bryce.

I'm absolutely FASCINATED at the metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies, so I thought that maybe, just maybe, we could use this as an educational opportunity.

I dug up a bit of earth with grass and plopped it into the bottom of a large cylinder vase I had for when we put fresh flowers out. I then looked up host plants and the closest I could find was petunia. I just so happened to have a couple of petunias outside, so I plucked a bit and put it in there with the caterpillar as well as a twig just in case it wished to cling onto something. I put a small bit of netting on the top and slid a rubberband down to keep it secure.

I immediately sat at the computer to try and identify the caterpillar. I came to the conclusion that what we'd found was actually a beautiful common buckeye butterfly caterpillar!!

This morning when we got up, the caterpillar was motionless and hanging, slightly curled up into a "J".

I tapped on the glass, and the caterpillar moved a little. I was still a bit sad thinking I may have removed this otherwise lively little creature from the pharmacy building and brought it home.

I began searching around the internet looking for clues on whether or not we'd actually harmed the little guy. I found some information on molting. Apparently, caterpillars sometimes molt as they outgrow their 'skin' and they are usually quite motionless for a while just before.

I was hopeful.

Throughout the morning today, I've gone to see if our motionless "J" was showing signs of life.

I saw a bit of frantic movement coming from the caterpillar and noticed that there is now what looks like a smaller part hanging above what SEEMS to be the start of a COCOON!!!!!

I'm so excited!!!! He's either molting to an "instar" or about to go through his amazing metamorphosis!!!!

** On a side note, Bryce put in a 'Wonder Pets' DVD earlier today. Ironically, it was one about a sad little inchworm who didn't understand why his friend was 'sick'. It showed a caterpillar hanging upside down in a "J" just like ours! They thoroughly explained about the pupa and the change, and then his friend came out a beautiful butterfly!!

About an hour later, I went to check on the caterpillar (before it started changing) and there on the top of the netting was a teeny, tiny INCHWORM!!!!! HAHAHAHA! How cool is THAT? Talk about a coincidence!!!

So let's hope we have a lovely butterfly to release soon!!!