We have been keeping an eye on the chrysalides the last several days because I knew the time was near for them to hatch. This morning as we headed out to pick strawberries I wondered if it would happen while we were gone. When we got home I was happy to see we hadn't missed it, but I was pretty sure it was going to happen that day. Sometime between the time we started canning our first batch of strawberries and when we finished it, the first butterfly emerged. I was bummed we missed it, but there were four more yet to go.
We watched the new butterfly gain strength and pump blood into his wings to make them stiff and strong enough to fly. It is an amazing thing that this whole process from egg to larva to pupa to butterfly takes less than a month! Abigail was enthralled with the new butterfly and watched him for quite some time. She was very concerned about the butterfly because she thought it was bleeding, but in fact that red fluid is called meconium and is left over color and tissue that is no longer needed.
The next morning we had three more butterflies, and by the end of the day yesterday our fifth one hatched. They must come out of their chrysalides as quickly as they go into them because I was keeping a close watch on the last one but he hatched while I was in the shower, so we didn't get to see any of them being "born."
Now we're feeding them fresh orange slices and sugar water and watching them eat. I think the last butterfly is now strong enough to be released, so we may do that this evening when Daddy gets home from work or possibly tomorrow.
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