Teacher saw a Cabbage White butterfly laying eggs on a cabbage leaf in her garden.
The eggs were orange and they were tiny. There were about 60 of them altogether. She brought the leaf with the eggs to school with her, and we all had a look at them.
When we came to school today we noticed that the eggs had changed. Now they are the smallest caterpillars we have ever seen, little transparent squiggles with a black head on each one. There is a tiny hole in the cabbage leaf where the tiny caterpillars have eaten it. We hope these caterpillars will grow and change into beautiful Cabbage White butterflies like their mother!
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
Our caterpillars are growing so fast, every day!
Friday, September 9th, 2011
Look at how much they have grown, and how few of them there are now!
Friday, September 16th, 2011
We don't need a magnifying glass to see our caterpillars now. They are growing fast, and they are eating lots.
Monday, September 19th, 2011
Growing so much, even over the weekend. We can't believe how much they eat now.
Thursday, 22nd September
Our caterpillars have grown too big for their skins, which they shed last night.
Here is a photo of the caterpillar skins, stuck to the side of the container.
Our bigger caterpillars look really healthy and happy.
Monday, 26th September
Teacher was watching the caterpillars eating the leaves. They eat such a lot each day.
A little snail joined the caterpillars on the cabbage leaves today.
Monday, 3rd October 2011
Over the weekend most of our caterpillars died (teacher can't figure out why).
The remaining 3 caterpillars spun cocoons and will wait for the warmer weather before they emerge as beautiful White Cabbage butterflies.
The green cocoons are White Cabbage butterfly cocoons, but the two brown cocoons are much smaller. Teacher found them under a wall at her home. We wonder what type of butterflies will emerge from these cocoons. Sleep tight butterflies, we'll see you in the Spring!!
