Class One Cocoon WatchClass One have been learning about caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies. On this page we had two webcams, which we updated every 60 seconds, to show the current state of the four cocoons/butterflies. The Empty TombAll four butterflies have now flown away, having undergone their own death & resurrection experiences:
See below for details of their transformation from chrysalids to butterflies. Video ClipsThese clips have been created using 'time lapse' photography, which is a bit like stop-motion animation. You take a photograph every minute, then run them all together quickly to make a speeded up film.
Butterfly WallpapersThese photographs can be downloaded and used as your desktop wallpaper on your PC or Mac. Each image is in two sizes - 1600x1200 for 17" monitors and 1024x768 for 15" monitors.
Butterfly Log
On these two pictures you can see the newly emerged butterfly resting on the netting above the paper disc. On the netting just below it, and on the disc itself, you can see red meconium (left over colouring from the wing formation):
Chrysalis to ChristeningNow our butterflies have emerged we need names for them! If you're in Class One and would like to suggest a name for one of the butterflies, please email or phone Mr Kershaw.
From the 'Painted Lady Butterfly Instruction Guide'With all butterfly kits, the chrysalides will be hanging flush against the disk, once the disk is hung vertically. If any of your chrysalides become detached from the disc(s), gently scoop it(them) out of the cup with a spoon and lay it on a piece of kitchen roll placed on the floor of the Hatching Habitat, near the side of the Habitat. This is so that when hatched, the new butterfly can crawl up the net to blow out its wings. If you notice your chrysalides shaking, do not be alarmed, as this is a natural instinct to ward off predators. Avoid air conditioning vents and close contact with radiators. The Birth of a ButterflyThe chrysalides will remain in this stage for approximately 7-14 days (depending on temperature). When they are nearing hatching, your chrysalides should become dark. When you are able to see the colouring of the butterfly through the chrysalis shell, the butterfly should hatch that day. As a butterfly emerges, it will rest in a vertical position while pumping its wings to full size. The butterflies do this by forcing blood under pressure into the veins of the wings. One to two hours after emergence, the wings will be full-sized and hardened. Now the butterfly is ready to fly. Do not be alarmed if you see a red liquid which appears to be blood coming from the tail of the butterfly. This is called meconium and is left over colouring from the wing formation along with unneeded tissues. Feeding, Observing & Releasing
Additional Information
The butterfly then pumps blood under pressure into her wings. As the wings expand, the butterfly begins to put the two halves of the proboscis together. It is very important that she accomplish this while the two halves are still soft and pliable. In two to three hours the wings are dry and the butterfly is ready to fly! Related pages: Class One Category: Science Author: Mrs Mackenzie http://bradfordchristianschool.com/ClassOneCocoonWatch Bradford Christian School, Livingstone Road, Bolton Woods, Bradford BD2 1BT
Tel: 01274 532649 Fax: 01274 595819 |
Wallpaper 1 
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Wallpaper 3 
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Wallpaper 5 
After the butterflies are fully formed and their wings have hardened, you can decorate the inside of your Hatching Habitat with anything natural, like flowers, twigs, pebbles and leaves. Find some fresh flowers and spread them around the bottom of the Hatching Habitat. Be careful when opening the Habitat, you don't want any escapees. To feed your butterflies, mix two teaspoons of sugar into an eight ounce (200ml) cup of cold tap water and stir. Using the pipette provided, sprinkle the mixture directly onto the flowers. An alternative is to place a jfesue saturated with the sugar water onto a small plastic plate and place the plate and tissue in the middle of your Hatching Habitat. Butterflies also like fresh cut oranges and old bananas. Observe the butterflies eating. You will see the butterfly smell with its antennae and taste with its two front legs - these are the small furry legs near the head. You will see them when the butterfly tastes with them before it drinks. You will see it unfurl its proboscis, drink in the sugar water, then roll it back up. Feed your butterflies every day and remember to keep the sugar water refrigerated between feedings. After a couple of days of observing your butterflies, please release them back to their natural environment. If you live in a built-up area, don't worry, the Painted Lady is a migrating butterfly and can fly thousands of miles to find food. They are indigenous to most of the world. Once released, the butterflies can often be seen for several days in the vicinity of their release - especially if you have a butterfly-attracting flower garden! They may even lay their eggs on your nettle leaves. The normal life span of the Painted Lady butterfly is two to five weeks.
