4 more pictures + 2 notes above in notes! :)

Last night when I went to bed, a couple of the caterpillars that I am raising looked strange. Peering closely at them, I realized that all of their "fancy hair" was gone, and all that remained were some stiff prickles. My first thought was that they were dying, but then I immediately put it together: they are beginning to "pupate", which means they are preparing to change from a caterpillar to a pupa. Most moths form cocoons around their bodies, though a few species crawl underground and pupate without forming a cocoon. Clio Tiger Moths will often form a nest from their own hair where they will be protected from predators and the elements while they are in their cocoons. However, just as the information I've read has said, not all caterpillars choose to pupate and form cocoons in nests.

This morning I looked into the habitat and discovered that the "sickest-looking" one had formed a cocoon during the night!! Absolutely AMAZING!!! To think. I took a little 2" stick home with some eggs on it. The eggs hatched into about 50 1/16" caterpillars, and over the course of many weeks, grew into 2" caterpillars and now they are forming cocoons...which means that in time they will emerge as adult Clio Tiger Moths...and I've gotten to see every stage except the emerging! Isn't it just the coolest thing EVER?! :D

The above picture shows two views of the pupa I saw this morning. The image in the lower right was taken this afternoon as the cocoon as matured! So fascinating!

If you would like to know more about the pupa stage in moths and butterflies, Wiki has a very good page here! Wikipedia: Pupa

Thanks to Jerry Jones for the two textures I used for the background: Well Worn 1 and Fire Damage 10-21-09 TOTD # 87