Butterflies and Moths: Part 3

For the final day of lepidopteran studies, we pulled out the specimens from our collection to examine! We have a cabinet of natural curiosities, which often comes in handy when we are learning about something. Evie also has her own little collection, which is a box filled with random bits of nature that have intrigued her. This includes pinecones, acorns, sticks, plant parts, rocks, feathers and more. I keep a little something from every species we raise in the house (Monarchs, Luna Moths, etc...), usually empty cocoons and skin molts.

Evie was especially amazed with the luna moth cocoon. I described how the caterpillar wraps leaves around itself, so that it blends in with the debris on the forest floor. There is a large hole where the moth emerged, and you can glimpse the empty pupa within. We checked out what that pupa looks like online, since I didn't want to unwrap our only specimen. Evie is only two, but she is very gentle, both with specimens and the live creatures when they are with us. I have always allowed her to hold anything that couldn't harm her. She learned very quickly how to be careful with small things.


Books

• Clara Caterpillar by Pamela Duncan Edwards
• The Complete Book of North American Butterflies by Paul A. Opler (we obviously just flipped through this one, looking at the pictures and reading little bits here and there)
• Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope (I can't tell you how many times we have read this book)

We also did a sticker activity book (Butterflies of the World: My Nature Sticker Activity Book by Olivia Cosneau). Evie loves stickers, and this book had wonderful pictures and facts. Plus, it helps Evie to work on her fine motor skills! We do a lot of sticker activity books, and they are a great way to spend a quiet, cuddly hour on the couch.