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Recently, my wife got the kids one of those 'grow your own butterfly' kits. They send you caterpillar eggs and a little net enclosure thing, and you watch them go through the whole cycle and become butterflies, then release them
Here's what I learned
/1
Here's what I learned
/1
Caterpillars grow really fast. Although watching them wriggle around a glass jar with a layer of nutrient paste on the bottom becomes less appealing as it slowly fills with silk and... other waste
/2
/2
The chrysalis a caterpillar spins around itself looks weirdly small, both for the caterpillar that formed it and the butterfly that emerges. It's like some bug version of Time Lord technology.
/3
/3
There are times when scientific accuracy must take second place to your children's well being
"You know the caterpillar's actually dead, right? It was broken down into a sort of nutrient soup to feed the butterfly embryo" is what I wanted to, but didn't, say. At any point
/4
"You know the caterpillar's actually dead, right? It was broken down into a sort of nutrient soup to feed the butterfly embryo" is what I wanted to, but didn't, say. At any point
/4
It's supposed to be this cool, magical moment when the butterflies emerge from their chrysalis. But nobody ever mentioned the blood that gushes out when that happens. Or whatever it is. Leftover caterpillar juice? Either way, it's far more 'organic' than cartoons suggest
/5
/5
And the most important thing I learned about growing butterflies?
If you already have a highly evolved predator in your house, he's going to be very, worryingly, intrigued by the new small constantly-flapping creatures in his territory
Should have seen this coming, tbh
/6
If you already have a highly evolved predator in your house, he's going to be very, worryingly, intrigued by the new small constantly-flapping creatures in his territory
Should have seen this coming, tbh
/6
Attempts to keep the butterflies out of Pickle's reach proved unsuccessful. Wife tried to put them on a high shelf, but of course, our cat is regularly found ON THE ROOF!
https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2019/10/25/cat-stuck-roof/
High places aren't a thing he even recognises as an obstacle
/7
https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2019/10/25/cat-stuck-roof/
High places aren't a thing he even recognises as an obstacle
/7
Tried putting the butterflies on a small isolated windowsill on the landing, with no room for Pickle to actually get to it. That'll keep him away from them, surely.
There's no suspense here, I know, because of course it didn't
/8
There's no suspense here, I know, because of course it didn't
/8
I was on the toilet the other morning and heard a weird noise, sort of a prolonged boing-thud-crash-miaow thing. It turned out to be the sound of a butterfly enclosure falling down the stairs, pursued by an enthusiastic cat.
/9
/9
Ever yelled STOP BEING AN ARSEHOLE at a cat? I have. Multiple times. Said cat pays no notice, of course, but it's cathartic for me at least. Although I worry the neighbours think I'm a very coarse parent now.
/10
/10
Another thing I learned about butterflies? They're surprisingly resilient. We managed to get all five of them through their development, and released them today
One of them was missing a big chunk from it's wing, though. Not sure why, but I have my suspicions...
/11
One of them was missing a big chunk from it's wing, though. Not sure why, but I have my suspicions...
/11
So yeah. Butterflies and cats. Not a good combo.
Or, butterflies and MY cat, not a good combo.
/end
Or, butterflies and MY cat, not a good combo.
/end
