Deep Look

With each sway of its head, this caterpillar lays astrand of silk.

Its weaving to survive.

As the silk dries, it shrinks, pullingthe edges of this blade of grass together.

In just a few minutes, this butterflybabe has made its very own grasstaco ... a safe place to call home.

And now, its time for its first nap.

When it grows up, itll get its wings.

Its a kind of butterfly called a skipper.

Look close enough and you might find one ofthese caterpillar homes in your backyard.

Grass skipper caterpillars build with grass.

Other skipper species use leaves, cutting and folding them to make tiny houses.

And a banana skipper rolls up banana leaves into little cigars. A grass skipper caterpillar tucksinto its shelter to hide from weather,parasites and predators like paper wasps.

When its hungry, it ventures out for somefresh grass ... like a nearby blade or even the end of its own house.

Yum, house!

And dont worry, it keeps its placeclean.

Time to take out the trash!

As the caterpillar grows, it buildsitself new homes.

Its making a silkpad so it wont slip.

The silk comes out ofthis pointy mouthpart called the spinneret.

A skipper caterpillars skinny neck gives it plenty of room to sway its head back and forth.

Over a few weeks, the caterpillar fills out.

Ugh, this belt is tight!

It turns into a pupa.

And within weeks, an adult.

Skippers look fuzzier than your average butterfly.

You might mistake one for a moth.

But most moths fly at night, and skippers fly during theday, some at dawn or dusk.

Check out their wings.

See how the two sets spread out at different angles?

It makes them look like a tiny jet plane.

Itsknown as the bombardier position eventhough skippers always come in peace.

Most butterflies keep their two sets of wings on the same plane.

Skippers chonky bodies are made up of strong flying muscles.

Theyresome of the speediest butterflies out there, skipping away from predators like birds.

Yes, that is how they got their name.

They also fan their wings in flirtycourtship dances.

By fluttering,they spread their pheromones to attract a mate.

Males release their pheromones from a glandon their front wings.

See thatbig splotch?

Its called a brand.

She has a gland on her backside.

Maybe thats why he keeps nudging her.

These dances can be truly acrobatic.

The male is trying to lure her with his scent.

But her fluttering is telling him hes nother type.

Literally.

Hes the wrong species of grass skipper.

After she does find the one, she lays pinhead-sized white eggs.

The caterpillars eat through them to break free.

And theyll go on to make a fresh batch of their very own grass tacos.