Winslow Emerged!

Winslow, the caterpillar I have been sharing with library classes since she was a baby caterpillar egg, emerged from her chrysalis during third grade's library class on Monday, May 4, at 10:05 am. I had just appointed an official "butterfly watcher" because I knew that it could happen at any time as the chrysalis was translucent and dark with a "bunched up" butterfly inside ready to get out. The chrysalis had started breaking apart at the golden ridge across the top.

As soon as my "butterfly watcher" reached the desk and started watching, she shouted, "Mrs. Owen, it's happening now!" We all rushed to see. AMAZING. There were "oohs and aahhs" all around.

The third grade had a butterfly in their classroom that emerged on Sunday. They were trying to feed it with an orange slice. Their classroom butterfly was a male. Winslow was a female. Female monarchs have thicker veins. Male monarchs have two black dots on their bottom wing along one of the veins.

We watched Winslow's wings grow and her body shrink. The photo above shows her prickly feet latching onto the wire of the container. She hung for most of the day to allow her wings to develop and dry.

These are Kindergarten students marveling at Winslow. The book is something new that I ordered for my family because we have loved raising these monarchs so much. It is by Joyce Sidman, one of my favorite children's poets. The illustrations by Beth Krommes, this year's Caldecott winning artist, are stunning.

My family, some friends, and I released Winslow late on Monday afternoon in the Fondren area of Jackson. She immediately flew up to the trees until we couldn't see her.