:(

one of my caterpillars died.

of the 10 i was raising - three of them are already chrysalis - three have climbed up the castle and will probably go in 'j position' by tomorrow - and three are in their 5th instar and will probably climb up by tomorrow too.

then there was the little guy... he wasn't growing. he was still in his 3rd instar although they were all born a day or so apart.

i kept watching him - wondering why he wasn't growing... i was rooting for him...

i guess they aren't all going to make it - as sad as that is. i am grateful for the other nine healthy ones.

i have had a few other deaths. i have a spot in the garden, marked by a little crystal, where i bury them. i put some fresh verbena there for him... for the butterfly he would have been.