Fun with a caterpillar

Several years ago we bought one of those Butterfly houses and had a fun time watching the caterpillars become butterflies. I've always wanted to get more caterpillars, but have been unable to find them, for a reasonable price. Anyway, when my Mom was here she found a caterpillar and showed the kids. Of course, they wanted to catch it and put it in our butterfly house to watch it change. We didn't know if it was going to be a moth or butterfly and I'm not really one to catch and CAPTURE bugs. I told them we could keep it in there until we figured out what kind of caterpillar it was. We couldn't believe it when not even 2 days later, it changed into a cocoon. The kids were so excited and of course we had to keep it after that.

The kids made sure to make Mr. caterpillar feel right at home.
His cocoon.

And then on Easter we checked and found a nice butterfly (or moth, we don't know for sure) We kept him for a day or so to let his wings dry but then released him.
It's always fun to watch things grow and change right before your very eyes. Now the kids are forever on the lookout for more caterpillars.