A Season of Rest Part 2

I have been learning lately a lot about the 'resting period' that I spoke of in my last blog.  Creation is designed with resting periods, for organisms to slow down and rejuvenate  I had always thought that most butterflies overwintered in the pupa or chrysalis stage.  This would make sense.  The pupa in a way is a resting stage, being unable to move, at least unable to cover distances.  The pupa stage for many creatures can wiggle, which is a little freaky when you see it, but they cannot run away, fly away, etc.  And of course, winter is the natural season for a resting stage.  With the cold as debilitating as it is, it is difficult to move the life cycle very far forward in sub-zero temperatures.

However, in the past few weeks I have learned several butterfly species actually overwinter in the larva, or caterpillar, stage.  Pictured below is the Great Spangled Fritillary.  These fritillaries spend the winter as very early instar caterpillars, meaning very small caterpillars, perhaps only a few millimeters in length.  The caterpillars seek shelter in the deep cracks of tree bark.  Once the weather begins to warm in the spring they will crawl down the side of the tree to feast upon violets on the forest floor.

The caterpillars of other butterfly species, for example satyrs and grass skippers, will overwinter buried within the stems of the grasses that they will feed upon in the spring.  Of course, these overwintering caterpillars do not feed, but simply bide there time until the weather warms.

How are you using your resting period?  Creation was designed to meet all of our needs.  One of those needs is rest.  Take advantage of God's planning for your rest!