The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly is one of the most amazing transformations in nature. We have spotted many butterflies, caterpillars and cocoons this season at Sauder Village. Here are some fun butterfly facts and photos!
Red Spotted Purple Butterfly – The red spotted purple caterpillar mimics bird poop to help protect it from predators! The caterpillars at Sauder Village spun their cocoons on a wild black cherry tree and are attached to the branch by strong silk cords.
Monarch – The monarch caterpillar feeds only on milkweed species. The butterflies that are hatched late in September will spend the next two months flying south to Mexico where they will spend the winter before heading back north in the spring.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – The eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar was also found on a wild black cherry tree at Sauder Village. It will overwinter in a chrysalis and hatch next spring. The butterfly only lives about 2 weeks but there are several generations throughout the summer.
For fun, here is a
Butterfly Life Cycle Worksheet ! Can you put the photos in the proper order? For even more information about the life cycle of a butterfly visit the
"Life Cycle of a Butterfly Page on the American Museum of Natural History website!
We hope you’ll visit other pages in the History Bound section of our website for other fun photos, videos and activities!