Week One: I recently discovered a Wooly Bear Caterpillar crawling around inside my garage, and I decided to keep it and observe its growth until it undergoes metamorphosis. Currently, I have been feeding it dandelion leaves, apple slices, and chunks of potato. Since I am uncertain about the species of this caterpillar and its exact care requirements, I am not able to provide comprehensive care instructions. Nevertheless, the caterpillar appears to be eating well and displaying good health from what I can observe. I will provide an update next week as I continue my efforts to identify its species.
Week Two: New developments have occurred as the caterpillar went over a shed during the week, indicating its continued state of good health. Additionally, another caterpillar was discovered crawling near my staircase, prompting me to adopt it into the experiment. Despite these advancements, there have been minimal observable changes thus far, but I remain determined in my quest to determine its precise species. Research suggests that the identification process may become more reliable upon the caterpillar's transformation into a moth, offering a potential breakthrough in the future.
Week Three: There have been no significant developments to report this week. The larger caterpillar discovered in Week Two appears to be in the process of molting; however, it has not molted yet. As promised, I will provide an update accompanied by a picture of their enclosure. In the image, you will notice remnants of their excrement scattered about and an aged potato in the background. The inclusion of sticks within the tank was intended to provide climbing opportunities, but I have noticed that the caterpillar seems to prefer resting on the ground for the majority of the day. Another noteable observation is their predominantly nocturnal nature, a suspicion that I confirmed through online research. I will return next week with further updates.
Week Four: Once again, there are no notable updates regarding the caterpillars this week. Contrary to my previous suspicions, they have not undergone molting. I apologize for any confusion caused by my earlier statement. However, I would like to share an image with you this week, showcasing the caterpillars consuming a dandelion leaf. It is a nice sight to witness their feeding habits. I will continue to monitor their progress and provide another comprehensive update in the following week.
Week Five: One of the caterpillars has remained stagnant for the past few days. During this time, it has shown no signs of eating or movement, leading me to believe that it may be undergoing pupation. On the other hand, the other caterpillar has been thriving, actively consuming and growing. I will provide you with an update next week regarding the potential progress of the caterpillar.
Week Six: Once again, there has been no discernible change. It appears that the second caterpillar, which had remained motionless, was merely experiencing a cold spell, thus resulting in its inactivity. Furthermore, the first caterpillar has opted to adopt the same curled-up posture observed last week alongside its counterpart, rendering any notable developments unavailable. Moving forward, I will refrain from making presumptions regarding their growth and instead focus on providing updates solely when physical alterations appear.
Week Seven: Once again, there has been no change in the caterpillars. However, a few days ago, I stumbled upon another caterpillar outside my home. I decided to bring it into the set-up and include it in my log. I will provide another update next week to track any developments.
Week Eight: As anticipated, there has been no noticeable progress in their growth. The accompanying image depicts a caterpillar eating sections of the dandelion leaf, yet there is little else to report. I shall provide another update in the following week.
Week Nine: Today, a caterpillar climbed up this stick for no reason. Apart from this occurrence, nothing noteworthy has transpired. I'm thinking of leaving this page alone until something interesting happens so that whenever I update there will be an event to report. That decision is still up to deliberation. I will provide another update in the following week.
Week ???: I apologize for the hiatus; I was away on a family vacation for the past three months and I lost track of my regular updates during that time. In a nutshell, the caterpillars spun themselves into cocoons, emerged as moths, and flew away, all under the diligent care of my grandmother. She nurtured them while I was absent with my family, as she had decided to tend to her tomato plants instead of joining us. I will be resuming my regular entries next week, thus concluding this segment on the Wooly Bear Caterpillars. To all my dedicated readers who followed this segment, I extend thanks for your continued support and attention. I will come up with a new update next week.
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