Summer Reading Program Event: Butterfly Release

One of the highlights of this year's Summer Reading Program for kids was observing caterpillars transform into butterflies throughout May and June via metamorphosis.

The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is a marvel of nature's transformational prowess. Starting as an egg laid on a suitable host plant, the caterpillar hatches and begins its voracious feeding stage, consuming leaves to fuel its growth. As it grows, the caterpillar sheds its skin multiple times in a process called molting. Once fully grown, it forms a chrysalis or pupa, where the most astonishing changes occur. Inside this protective casing, the caterpillar's body undergoes a remarkable restructuring. Imaginal discs, groups of cells that were present since the caterpillar's early development, now begin to rapidly divide and differentiate, forming the adult butterfly's wings, legs, antennae, and other structures. This metamorphosis typically takes a few weeks, culminating in the emergence of a fully-formed butterfly, ready to take flight and begin its new life cycle.

Today the butterflies were released on the library patio just in time for National Pollinator Week.

The 2024 Summer Reading Program is sponsored by the City of Smyrna, the Friends of Smyrna Library, and Dairy Queen, Spring Rd.