Growing butterflies, growing minds
As the caterpillars go through metamorphosis at the Butler Area Public Library, so will the minds of the children who watch them evolve in the mesh basket in the children’s section of the library.
Children’s librarian Tiffany Harkleroad has hatched ducklings and given children seedlings to plant on their own through the library, but this May is her first time raising caterpillars, which is an effort to teach children more about nature.
“Even though we live in a rural county, a lot of kids don’t get to see this,” Harkleroad said of the process of metamorphosis. “We just want to make it accessible.”
Five jars, each filled with five caterpillars, arrived at the library on May 1, and all 25 of them climbed to the jar lids and formed chrysalises this past weekend, Harkleroad said. They can be viewed in the children’s department at the library, and Harkleroad said she hopes to plan a release day once the painted lady butterflies emerge from their cocoons.
For now, anyone can view the cocoons in the children’s department, and children even can submit name suggestions for the 25 insects. Harkleroad said the name suggestions have been one of her favorite parts of each of the nature-based programs.
“They gave us names like Astro Boy,” she said. “I’ll probably pick them at random and post pictures with their names.”
Because of the unpredictability of when the butterflies will emerge, Harkleroad said she is unsure of when they will be released, but it probably will take place in the courtyard at the library.
She also said this nature initiative falls in line with the library’s science, technology, engineering and math programming, as well as its summer theme of “Camp Kindness.” Harkleroad said she hopes to see a lot of children check out the evolving butterflies before they are released into the wild.
“I would love to see more kids get into this kind of thing,” Harkleroad said. “I hope they realize they can learn so much about nature.”
