Did a Little Research

I have seen a caterpillar make a cocoon, but I did not know how they made a chrysalis. I looked for videos on youtube because I keep missing when our caterpillars do it. Apparently it doesn't take very long. Did you know that they actually peel their own skin off to reveal the chrysalis underneath. There are some long videos on youtube if you are interested in looking at the full thing. This is a short video of snap shots of the caterpillar changing.

Naughty Caterpillars

People think caterpillars are so sweet. But they are not. I have even seen them fight with each other. This morning when we woke up we found that they were all hanging upside down except for the one that already formed his chrysalis yesterday. I am suspicious that the other four where jealous of the early bird (maybe that's not such a good analogy since they are worms and all) and knocked him down. He will be okay. No worries. He just didn't the prime spot he wanted. But he looks good.

The other ones are all hanging upside down and getting ready. It is so weird to watch a caterpillar turn. They hang upside down for almost 24 hours, not moving at all, like they are dead. They must turn into a chrysalis super fast because I never see it. Already three of them have turned. One of them was a regular hanging caterpillar a half an hour ago and now he has a full out chrysalis. Weird huh? I don't know how they do it either because I am pretty sure they don't actively make it (not like making a cocoon) because they don't ever move. Here is a picture of some of them hanging.