Although butterflies were the only sexually active part of the caterpillar community, it would be wrong to assume that they raised their own young. In most cases, the caterpillar at the larval stage were raised by sterile adult caterpillars in a surrogate family situation. Although it was no longer the case that butterflies died soon after their fertility cycle was finished, most butterflies took something of an aloof nature to butterflies, seeing them as lesser beings, or beneath their concerns. Butterflies were usually solitary creatures after their mating period, although a number of them used their additional strength, speed and dexterity, along with their ability to fly, to their advantage to get jobs in security or military organisations. Very few butterflies raised their own young, partly because of the above mentioned aloofness, partly because the butterfly could have up to 800 children (although nearer 1-200 was more usual), and it would be difficult to give any of them a decent level of support in childhood if the parent did stay with the child. As it was, caterpillar families usually numbered between 3 and 5 children, often more, usually taken from 2 different hatchings of larvae. Cornelius's case was different, because of his status as an only child, but the details of Cornelius's case are better raised elsewhere.
Copyright 1999 Ian Rennie, for Remiel Productions.