Beetles, Ants, and Butterflies!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17


This verse took on new meaning for us this week as we were privileged to observe an adult butterfly emerging from its chrysalid. The transformation has been nothing short of miraculous! But before getting into that, here are some other insect creatures we have in our home right now. Thanks to our zoology book and the last few chapters on insects, the children have become truly fascinated with insects in all their various stages. Here is a larvae commonly known as a "mealworm" (in fact it is NOT a worm at all!). When it reaches adulthood it will become a beetle! These are son C's "pets". He changes the carrot every day, and once we even changed out all the oatmeal. There are 31 mealworms in there!



For her final class project, our daughter G chose to make her own ant farm, following directions in the zoology book. The green sponge is a long skinny one, acting as a wick for the water inside the pop can. When we look through the sides of the glass jar, we can clearly see the numerous tunnels these ants have built! (the brown thing next to the sponge is the leftover part of a cereal bit).


For his final project, our son L wanted to raise butterflies. He already had a butterfly habitat which had never been used, so all we needed were the butterfly larvae. I found some for a reasonable price at insect lore, and when they came in the mail they were teeny tiny caterpillars in this self contained little jar.



They began eating the brown stuff in the bottom of the jar, and they ate and ate and ate for a little over a week! (you know the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle? Well, turns out that book is very accurate!) When they had increased in size about 800%, they each crawled to the top of the jar, attached themselves to the underside of the lid (there was a soft paper disc in there to attach to) and began the process of hardening their final exoskeleton ~ their chrysalis.


After all 5 had a nice hard exoskeleton like this:


....we opened the jar, took out the paper disc, and pinned it to the inside of the butterfly habitat.



We set it up high where curious little hands and curious cat paws could not reach. And we waited for another week or so.


And then today, what should emerge from one of the chrysalids, but a big beautiful butterfly!!


It has spent the better portion of the afternoon and evening gently fanning its wings open and closed. We know from our zoology book that it is pumping fluid into its wings so that later it can fly. It is also warming up its body temperature ~ if the temp is not warm enough butterflies will not fly.


We have put sugar water into the little yellow sponges you see in the above photo, and also a nice slice of orange in the bottom of the habitat. We have not seen the butterfly drink yet, but we think this is normal as the new adult gets its bearings. We are now constantly watching the other 4 to see when they will emerge. It has been the coolest thing to watch the change occur. From a tiny little caterpillar which was very unimpressive, to a beautiful butterfly with brightly colored wings ~ simply amazing! God is very creative, is He not?

As we were all watching the butterfly this evening and oohing and aahing over every little movement of its wings, I said, "wow, butterflies are so amazing, aren't they?" And son L corrected me, saying, "No, God is amazing!"

You are so right, L.