The Amazing Chrysalis!

Tuesday, August 13, 1996
This morning the caterpillar was still hanging in the same position. Around
noon we noticed that his antennae were hanging limply from his body. Shortly
after that he straightened out a little bit and began moving his body - first
compressing it so he was shorter and fatter and then relaxing back to his
original shape. After doing this a few times, his skin split down by his head
and within just a few minutes we watched him squirm until his skin peeled all the
way up to his feet and then fell to the table, leaving the shiny green form called
the pupa.




After another hour or so, the chrysalis has taken on its final shape. It is
a shiny jade-green color and is dotted with bright gold spots. It will
stay like this for approximately 10-15 days.