Transformations

Recently, while watering my tomatoes and cursing the stupid deer who keep munching on them, I noticed a caterpillar that seemed quietly content, just hanging onto one of the vegetable posts. When I returned the following evening, I noticed that the caterpillar was no longer there, but that it had built a chrysalis around itself.

Over the course of the next 13 days, I made a point of checking on that little cocoon and documented its transformation. To be honest, for 12 days, there wasn’t much of anything going on. On the second to last day, I got a kick out of the lady bug that seemed to be keeping the chrysalis company. And on the last day, I noticed that the chrysalis was changing from its brilliant yellow-green into a darker shade. I knew that something would likely happen soon.

I’m so pleased that I was home and managed to snap a picture of the new Black Swallowtail butterfly before it flew away. What a joy it was to watch it turn from a little green caterpillar into its magnificent new form.

I am reminded of a RadioLab episode I once listened to, “Goo and You.” It is fascinating to think about the metamorphosis process and how some scientists believe that caterpillars more or less melt away in order to reform themselves. I’ve no idea if this is true, but it sounds kind of metaphysical and violent.

I’m sure there’s a larger metaphor in here, but I’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to apply. Hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do and listen to that RadioLab episode if you get a chance!

Happy summer!