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The Great Preschooler Escape! Swallowtail Kindergarten

旅空海美

After finishing lunch, Mom went to check on the lemon tree in the sunroom, wondering how the three caterpillar preschoolers were doing.

“They’re gone!”

To her surprise, the three caterpillars that should have been on the lemon tree just a moment ago were nowhere to be found.

She looked behind the cardboard and under the table, but only the preschoolers who had already turned into chrysalises were there.

Worried about accidentally stepping on them, Mom walked on tiptoes, carefully checking the laundry poles and the walls.

Before long, she found the caterpillar preschoolers, each waddling toward a corner of the sunroom.

“There you are!”

Relieved, Mom placed them back on the leaves one by one and returned them to the insect cage.

She was able to safely rescue the three runaway caterpillar preschoolers.

Runaway preschooler No. 1. It seems it is still pooping and eating leaves, so it might be a little while before it turns into a chrysalis.
Runaway preschooler No. 2. Has it decided on a place to turn into a chrysalis? The black lines are very distinct, so I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of swallowtail it becomes.
Runaway preschooler No. 3 with the cute white socks. I wonder if it will turn into a chrysalis on this branch.

This incident taught me something new.

When it is time to turn into a chrysalis, they try to go as far away as possible from where they were born and raised.

I remembered that when I finally tried to rescue the three caterpillars on the lemon tree in the entryway, I could only find two.

I had wondered where the other one went.
Today’s great escape made it clear.
It had walked as far away from the lemon tree as possible to turn into a chrysalis.

Come to think of it, I have never seen a chrysalis attached to the lemon tree or the Japanese pepper tree.

It seems they are programmed to find a place as far away as possible and scatter when it is time to decide where to emerge.

To increase their chances of survival, even if just a little.

Observing the swallowtail preschoolers, I am struck by the resilience and straightforwardness of living things.
Even though they are small, every caterpillar acts with a clear intention.

Diversity is a strategy for survival.

You did your best, waddling far away on your tiny feet.

By tomorrow, all the runaway caterpillar preschoolers will likely be in the prepupal stage.

It makes me a little sad that I won’t be able to see them munching on leaves, getting angry and sticking out their horns, or sleeping soundly anymore.

But at least I don’t have to worry about them running away anymore, so that’s a bit of a relief.














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