Caterpillar Nest!!! It's Pupating Time!! (3 more pictures inset in notes! :)

3 more pictures above in notes! :)

If you would like more information about this wonderful adventure from the start, this page (click) has all the pictures I've taken inset in the main image, along with the story!

Yesterday after Steve got home from work, I brought my caterpillar habitat over to the counter so I could look at them. Taking the lid off, Steve exclaimed, "OMG, are they moldy?!!!!" "No," I said in delight, "They're making nests!! Inside the nest, there is a caterpillar turning into a pupa, and it uses its own hair to create this nest, which protects them from predators and from the elements! Isn't that cool?!!"

Steve and I were completely fascinated by the new developments in the habitat. I'd noticed that in the past couple of days, the number of leaves consumed had begun to slow down. Thank goodness, because I've been starting to get worried about their food supply. It's dry as a bone outside and the milkweed plants are almost all dried up and dead now. There are still enough plants left to get leaves from for another couple of weeks, but not a lot. I was incredibly relieved to see that the largest caterpillars, otherwise known as "5th instars" are finally turning into pupas. (Here is a picture of a Clio Tiger Moth pupa.)

Did you know that almost all insects go through dramatic changes as they grow from hatchling to adult? Each time they moult, it is considered another "instar", and each instar usually looks different, sometimes vastly different! In fact, this is why it can be so hard to identify insects, since it's so difficult to tell if the insect you're looking at is an adult or a developing instar! Fascinating, isn't it?

I don't know how long it will take for the pupa stage. Some information says 10-14 days. Other information says as long as 4-6 months. I wish I knew! I'll try to find out though, so wish me luck!

I did find some pictures and a bit of information showing nests and pupa in case you're interested:
Wild Utah: Clio Tiger Moth Larvae