The art of metamorphosis in nature

Ssssshhhh be quiet please!!! Our little buddies are taking a nap!!Who would guess that these creepy looking caterpillars would eventually become a beautiful butterfly?? Well, that's part of the magic of nature. These are caterpillars of a Caligo or Cream Owl Butterfly, which is one of the biggest in the rainforest, with a wingspan of 20 centimeters and a lifespan of 3 months. Wow!! that's a long life considering that most butterflies live only a few weeks ( the blue morpho for example lives 3 weeks) This caterpillars have a voracious appetite, to the point that they can be a major problem in banana plantations for example. The adult butterfly feeds mostly on rotten fruit and is active at night, that where its name Caligo comes from, since it means darkness in latin. We can't wait to see our little friends turn into a beautiful butterfly!!! We just have to be patient!!