Author: Audrey

Learning and Seeing New Things

We have been learning a lot about butterflies! Today we cleaned and feed all our pets.

The other day we saw something we have never seen before! We saw when they molt! They shed their skin by pushing it off. It was cool. Here is a picture of it!

One of our butterflies, I named him Clandor, his wing– a big part of the tip–was falling off. We thought to release him because it was easier for him to live outside. He could fly almost as well as the others. We don’t know what happened to his wing. We forgot to get a picture of him.

Uncle Josh and Auntie Angie helped us release four butterflies on Monday.

We have two new butterfly girls; one emerged yesterday and one today.

Tuesday night we had one that looked like he would emerge on Wednesday morning, but when I looked at him in the morning he looked brown. Andrea looked at him later and he looked like he was pinched. He died. When Momma cleaned him up last night, he was just liquid. This is the first one we had die in a chrysalis that did not fall when he was forming.

Running Total:

  • Lost: 5, one butterfly just before emerging, two caterpillars-one fell while forming chrysalis–and two moldy eggs.
  • Butterflies Released: 32
  • Soon to be Released: 2 girls
  • Roaming: 1
  • Little Piggy: 1
  • 20 mm caterpillars: 4
  • 15 mm caterpillars: 1
  • 10mm caterpillars: 2
  • 5 mm caterpillars: 5
  • 3 mm caterpillars: 10
  • Eggs: 3

Butterfly Update

With all the humidity, we are having problems with mold! We find our caterpillars fresh milkweed and it gets moldy too fast.  We rescued two caterpillars, who are doing good.  But the eggs don’t hatch 🙁 . So we cut as much mold off the last one and are going to try leaving the lid open and watch to see what happens! Have to be careful if he hatches so he does not roam!

The other day we let go six butterflies! The total we have released is 27! We have lost two caterpillars and one egg (because of mold).

Last night we had a boy butterfly emerge!

Crazy Mouse and Ferris Wheel

Daddy took us to the fair yesterday. He got two tickets for each of us to ride on rides. It was dollar day so everything was only a dollar!

I picked rides that I have never been on. I picked the Ferris Wheel first, to see how high I was on Crazy Mouse. There was a long line for Crazy Mouse.  Everyone wanted to ride Crazy Mouse.

Mark went on the Loop De Loop. Andrea did a fun house. They went on Crazy Mouse with me. Adrian went on the slide and the Merry go round.

I did not really like Crazy Mouse because I felt like I was going to fall. I don’t know if I would do it again. I will probably try it when I get bigger. I am glad I did not do it alone! I am very glad!

We also played a game by the cows. Adrian won a picture of cows. Mark and Andrea both won a piece of candy. I won a ticket for some free strawberry vanilla twist ice cream! We got the ice cream and ate it in the car because it started to rain, HARD!

Butterfly Update

Today we let go nine butterflies. So far, we have released 21 butterflies this year! Momma did some research and discovered that fewer than 10% of eggs laid survive to adulthood in the wild.

Two boys and two girls emerged today and are in the large cage eating. We have five new chrysalis too!

Setting Free my Butterflies

Sunday we let go eight butterflies. We had two that their wings were torn off at the tips. We don’t know why.

When we let them go, we open our hands. When they fly away, we yell, “Bye!” One flew away and landed on Mark’s back! The also liked the Butterfly plant, our petunia, our birdhouse, and our Maple Tree.  Momma says we will probably see them a lot today.

Right now, Ruth is on a birdhouse. That’s all I see, the rest flew away.

The one that hatched today is in the big cage and we will keep him for a little bit. If some hatch tomorrow, I will tell you about them.

My Seven Butterflies

Today before we went to the fair with Grandpa, we got to see four butterflies emerge. We had two girls and two boys! We already had three boys. They were in a separate container.

Here are their names: the youngest is Little Dude then Adrian. Then Ruth and then Renee and then Mr. Marky Mark and Daddy then Mommy.

Here are all seven of their pictures. If you want to see the whole butterfly, click on their picture.

My Twin Butterflies

Today one of our caterpillars died while he was making his chrysalis. He fell. I am sad.

We have twin butterflies. They are boys. I got to hold one of the butterflies and he flew away by our window. I caught him and gave him to Andrea and she put him back in the cage. They like to eat watermelon. We had two girls and two boys so far this year.

Right now I have 14 chrysalises.  One may emerge tomorrow. We have one roaming caterpillar, and three making their webs. We have 7 small caterpillars.

I will try to post better pictures of the twins tomorrow. It was too hot this afternoon and they kept flying away. They usually play in the morning better then in the afternoon.

Exploring 4-H

For Exploring 4-H, I learned how to make Rice Crispy Treats. They are easy!

These in the picture are the ones I put into the fair.

Here is how I made them:

1/4 cup butter melted

40 large marshmellows

5 cups Rice Crispy cereal

Candy sprinkles

I started to put some marshmallows in the pan with the butter. (Eat the extra marshmallows 😉 ) Stir until they are melted. Pour Rice Crispys in. Mix well. Pour into a large buttered pan. Smoosh them in. If you want sprinkles, add some sprinkles on then let them sit for a half hour. Then you can cut them and eat!