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This article was co-written by Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Samuel Ramsey is an entomologist and research specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and research into insect disease spread, parasitic behavior, mutualistic development, biological control, invasive species ecology, insect receptor health pollen and pest control. He holds a bachelor’s degree in entomology from Cornell University and a doctorate in entomology from the University of Maryland. Ramsey’s research on bees has allowed researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”
This article has been viewed 21,029 times.
Caterpillars are very interesting and easy to keep pets for both children and adults. As long as they are provided with enough food, they will not require much care. And what’s the best thing? You will watch the nymphs or worms wrap themselves in a delicate cocoon, and then a few days or weeks later, they transform into beautiful butterflies like magic. What better reward than that? Read on to learn how to properly care for caterpillars and turn them into butterflies.
Steps
Find caterpillars
- In the wild, caterpillar survival rates are 2%, which means only 2 out of every 100 eggs a female moth lays survive to adulthood. This is because a large number of predators include caterpillars on their list of food sources. So, when you keep caterpillars as a pet, you also give them a higher chance of survival.
- Note that fall caterpillars will usually pupate during the winter, so you’ll have to wait much longer to see them morph into butterflies than spring and summer butterflies. This time is usually about 2-3 weeks.
- Monarch butterfly is most commonly found on milkweed.
- Swallowtail caterpillars (Spicebush Swallowtail) are most commonly found on the Spicebush tree.
- Zebra Swallowtail caterpillars most commonly found on American papaya (Paaw Paw)
- Black Swallowtail caterpillars are most commonly found on herbs such as parsley and dill.
- The Luna Moth moth is most commonly found on the leaves of walnut and Sweet Gum trees.
- Cecropia Moths moths, Viceroy butterflies and Red-Spotted Purple butterflies are most commonly found on cherry tree leaves. [1] X Research Source
- You can buy caterpillars or order caterpillars in their larval stage, before they even hatch. If you’re just interested in butterflies, you can order pupae – and then just wait for them to appear.
- Some of the most popular caterpillars are the monarch butterfly (which you can order at www.MonarchWatch.org), and the Painted Lady caterpillar. Painted Lady caterpillars are easy to keep, as they are placed in a growth medium and nurtured to pupate, so you don’t need to find a host plant for them. [1] X Research Source
- The best way to pick up a caterpillar and move it is to place a piece of paper or leaf in front of the caterpillar, then gently push behind it. The caterpillar will crawl onto the paper or leaf to avoid being touched. Once there, you can move the caterpillar on its temporary perching branch.
- Remember not to drop caterpillars – they can die when dropped from above, even a few centimeters tall.
- If you need to touch the caterpillar, it’s best to wash your hands first. Caterpillars are very fragile and can pick up bacteria from human skin.
- Some caterpillars have sharp hairs or spines that can itch or even sting your skin. Therefore, it is best to avoid touching these caterpillars with your bare hands. [2] X Research Source
Make a home for caterpillars
- Cover the mouth of the jar with a piece of cloth or mesh and tie it with an elastic to allow air to circulate. Don’t just poke holes in the lid of the jar (as advised by some sites) because caterpillars can try to get through these holes and get injured by the sharp edges.
- If you want to keep more than one caterpillar, you need to give each one a space three times its body size for them to move around. That way you won’t have to worry about the caterpillar’s house being too cramped.
- However, you should only line the bottom of the jar with paper towels if you know that the caterpillars you are raising will pupate on the ground.
- If you keep pupating caterpillars in the ground (or if you’re not sure), you should spread a layer of soil or sand about 5cm thick at the bottom of the jar. This way, the caterpillar will have a place to burrow.
- The layer of soil or sand should be slightly moist – but not so moist that it clings to the walls of the jar. Caterpillars are quite sensitive to moisture. [1] X Research Source
- First, the caterpillars will have room to crawl up if they need to reach for food.
- Second, caterpillars can choose to hang themselves on rods and pupate. Therefore, you should place the stick in a stable position so that it does not tip over.
- Third, when the pupa turns into a butterfly, it will need a place to spread its wings and dry.
- However, you need to be careful not to let the caterpillar get wet, as too much humidity can cause mold to grow inside and on the caterpillars. [1] X Research Source
Feed the caterpillars
- The first thing you should do is give the caterpillar a few leaves of the tree you found them on, as it is most likely their host plant.
- Watch the caterpillars to see if they eat the leaves you give them. If the caterpillar does eat – congratulations – you have found its host! Now you just need to provide a source of fresh leaves until your caterpillar pupates.
- In this case, it’s best to pick a few different types of leaves where you found the caterpillar and put them in a jar, then watch closely to see if it eats any leaves. If so, you can leave out the other leaves and simply feed the caterpillar the leaves of its choice.
- If you find it difficult to find the right plants to feed your caterpillars, you can consult a plant and animal guide such as Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars , (Peterson’s Caterpillar First Guide) or Caterpillars of Eastern Forests (The Caterpillars of Eastern Forests). butterflies in the eastern forests). These guidebooks will provide information on each caterpillar’s favorite food sources, saving you time experimenting. [1] X Research Source
- If you can’t find the manuals above, try using some of the most common food sources of caterpillars such as trees: cherries, oaks, willows, pythons, birch, apples, and birch. You should also try getting the flower in addition to the leaf, as some caterpillars like to eat this part of the plant. [2] X Research Source
- If you can’t find a plant that your caterpillar likes to eat, it’s probably best to drop it back. That way it can at least find suitable food on its own, or else it will starve to death.
- A good way to preserve food is to put it in a jar of water and place it in the caterpillar’s “house”. Water will help the leaves stay fresh and green longer.
- However, sometimes the caterpillars can slip off the leaves, fall into the water and drown. To prevent this, you should use paper towels or cotton lint around the petioles. This will be safer for the caterpillars. [2] X Research Source
- You can also buy cheap flower arrangements at the florist to put leaves into them. The mouth of these tubes is very narrow so the risk of caterpillars falling into the water can be reduced.
- When feeding the caterpillars with new leaves, be sure to remove the old and dry leaves. Clean the caterpillar tank, removing worm waste or other debris.
- Another thing to keep in mind is that spiders or other predators can hide in the leaves. If this is the case, the caterpillars can be eaten by them when you put the leaves in the vase, which you probably don’t want at all! So you need to carefully check all branches and leaves before feeding the caterpillars. [1] X Research Source
- However, if the caterpillars seem a bit dry or want to increase the humidity in the vase, wash the leaves and put them in the vase without drying them.
- Drops of water remaining on the leaves will provide the necessary moisture for the caterpillars.
Turn caterpillars into butterflies
- Caterpillars may also be more active than usual, constantly crawling around in the jar. In this case, the caterpillar is probably looking for a place to pupate.
- Unfortunately, these symptoms can also be signs of a sick caterpillar, so you should avoid touching it during this time. Wait and see if your caterpillar successfully pupates.
- If you keep a lot of caterpillars and one dies, remove the carcass from the pot immediately to prevent the disease from spreading. [1] X Research Source
- You don’t need to pay attention to the pods on the ground, but you may need to move or re-hang the pods if they’re in the wrong position or if they’ve fallen out of place.
- If you find the pupa in a place where there isn’t enough room to spread its wings when it turns into a butterfly, it’s probably best to move it somewhere else. Hold the capsule gently and hang it on a stick or attach it to the side of the jar.
- You can do this by threading a thread through the pointed end of the capsule, or inserting a small knotted needle into it and hanging it in a suitable place. [3] X Research Sources
- Leave the sticks in the jar when cleaning. The pupae will need these sticks when they turn into butterflies, as they will land on trees to spread their wings. If the butterfly has nothing to land on, its wings will not grow out normally and it will die. [4] X Research Sources
- In addition, you need to maintain the humidity by checking every few days. If the air in the jar is too dry, the pupae will dry out, but too much humidity will also cause the pupae to become moldy. Both of these situations prevent the pupation of the butterfly.
- If the soil at the bottom of the pot is too dry, spray some water on the soil. Wipe clean if you see dirt on the wall of the jar.
- Consult your caterpillar/butterfly manual for exact optimum temperature and humidity for the pupae you are keeping.
- If you catch a caterpillar in the fall, it is likely that it will spend the winter months pupating and only transform into a butterfly in the spring – a process called “winter avoidance”.
- Some of the signs that a butterfly is about to emerge is that the pupa turns dark, even becoming transparent.
- Pay close attention to the pupa from this point on, as the butterfly can emerge from the pupa in seconds, and you won’t want to miss it!
- Since the moth’s cocoon is underground, you won’t be able to observe its changes.
- If the pupa turns very dark, it may be a sign that it is dead. You can test it by gently bending the pupa at its abdomen – if the pupa stays that way, it’s most likely dead. [1] X Research Source
- When the butterfly begins to flap its wings and fly around the vase, it is time to let the butterfly fly away. The butterfly doesn’t like being trapped, and its wings can be damaged if it continues to beat the wall of the vase to find a way out. [3] X Research Sources
- Take the butterfly jar outside, go to the place where you originally caught the caterpillar, open the lid and let the butterfly fly away happily.
Advice
- Do not place the caterpillar tank near the air conditioner.
- You can find caterpillars in crevices in trees, under logs or rocks, on sidewalks and parking lots.
- If you keep caterpillars indoors, place the caterpillars in a cool room near a window.
- Whatever container you use as your caterpillar’s home, you need to provide plenty of fresh air for them.
- Drop two or more caterpillars into the vase so they don’t get lonely.
- Grow caterpillars in pots that are 3 times larger than their body size.
- You need to learn a little about the type of caterpillar you are raising to avoid being bitten or stung!
Warning
- Do not hold the caterpillar the wrong way, as some caterpillars will bite or sting you.
This article was co-written by Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Samuel Ramsey is an entomologist and research specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and research into insect disease spread, parasitic behavior, mutualistic development, biological control, invasive species ecology, insect receptor health pollen and pest control. He holds a bachelor’s degree in entomology from Cornell University and a doctorate in entomology from the University of Maryland. Ramsey’s research on bees has allowed researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”
This article has been viewed 21,029 times.
Caterpillars are very interesting and easy to keep pets for both children and adults. As long as they are provided with enough food, they will not require much care. And what’s the best thing? You will see the nymphs or worms wrap themselves in a delicate cocoon, and then a few days or weeks later, they transform into beautiful butterflies like magic. What better reward than that? Read on to learn how to properly care for caterpillars and turn them into butterflies.
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