We have been learning all about the lifecycle of a caterpillar. We had our very own caterpillars in the Nursery which we have been looking after.
We learned about the four stages of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly. The four stages are the egg, the larva (caterpillar), the pup (chrysalis or cocoon) and the adult. We discovered that caterpillars grow very quickly and that one day the caterpillar will stop eating, hangs upside down from a leaf or twig and spins itself a silky cocoon or molts into a shiny chrysalis. The caterpillar then transforms its body and eventually emerges as a butterfly.
We had special butterfly nets for our caterpillars to live in during their time at Nursery and they hung themselves onto the side of the net when they were chrysalis/cocoon. Once the butterflies emerged from their cocoon/chrysalis we had to collect flowers and give them water. We then released them in the orchard beside the wild flowers.
Safely inside the butterfly garden!
Butterflies being released onto the wild flowers.
Holding one of the Butterflies before it was released.
