Butterfly Research Project

[Kathryn McCann]

    My name is Kathryn McCann and I am a junior at Central Virginia 
Governor's School in Lynchburg, Virginia.  I am planning on doing a research
project with Painted lady butterflies.  My plan was to prick eyespots on the
left wings of these butterflies approximately six hours after they pupated.
This would cause the eyespots to either grow, shrink, or disappear.  The
right wings would be the controls.  A professor told me that this would be
possible because the pupae do not form a chrysalis right away and their
wings are wrapped around the body on the surface and easily accessible.  I'm
not exactly sure what to expect, though.  Would I be able to tell the left
wings from the right?  Are the eyespots visible in the pupal stage?  What
will the pupae look like exactly?  How long will it take them to form a
chrysalis?  I would really appreciate it if you would answer my questions.
Thank you so much for your time and help.  My email address is
kmccann at cvgs.k12.va.us
Thanks again, 
Kathryn McCann


 
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