Buzz
Caterpillars are fascinating and easy-to-care-for pets, suitable for both children and adults. As long as they have a steady supply of food, they require minimal effort to maintain. And the best part? You’ll get to witness the incredible transformation as they spin themselves into delicate cocoons, and within days or weeks, they emerge as stunning butterflies, as if by magic. What could be more rewarding? Continue reading to learn how to properly care for caterpillars and guide them through their metamorphosis into butterflies.
Steps
Finding Caterpillars
Choose the right season to search for caterpillars. The best time to hunt for caterpillars is during spring and summer, as most butterflies and moths lay their eggs during this period. However, some species, like certain caterpillars, are more common in the fall. Winter is the only time of year when caterpillars are unlikely to be found.
- In the wild, the survival rate of caterpillars is only 2%, meaning just 2 out of 100 eggs laid by a female butterfly survive to adulthood. This is due to the high number of predators that consider caterpillars a food source. By raising caterpillars as pets, you’re giving them a much better chance of survival.
- Keep in mind that fall caterpillars often pupate throughout the winter, so you’ll have to wait much longer to see them transform into butterflies compared to spring and summer species. This process typically takes about 2-3 weeks.
Search for caterpillars on host plants. The easiest place to find caterpillars is on host plants, as they are usually close to their food source. If you're not picky about the type of caterpillar you want to raise, you can search on the leaves of any plant in your garden or a nearby park. However, if you're aiming to raise a specific species of caterpillar or butterfly, you'll need to look for particular plants. Here are some of the most common species and their host plants:
- Monarch butterflies are most commonly found on milkweed plants.
- Spicebush Swallowtails are typically found on spicebush plants.
- Zebra Swallowtails are often seen on pawpaw trees.
- Black Swallowtails are usually found on herbs like parsley and dill.
- Luna Moth caterpillars are commonly found on walnut and sweet gum leaves.
- Cecropia Moths, Viceroy butterflies, and Red-Spotted Purple butterflies are frequently found on cherry tree leaves.
Order special caterpillars online. If you're looking to raise unique caterpillar species or can't find them in the wild, consider purchasing caterpillars from specialized dealers or online platforms.
- You can buy caterpillars or order them in their larval stage before they hatch. If you're only interested in butterflies, you can purchase chrysalises and wait for them to emerge.
- Some of the most popular species include Monarch butterflies (available at www.MonarchWatch.org) and Painted Lady caterpillars. Painted Lady caterpillars are easy to raise as they come with their growth environment and are nurtured until they pupate, eliminating the need to find host plants.
Handle caterpillars with care. Once you've found a caterpillar, it's important to handle it properly. If you try to pull it off a surface, it may cling tightly and could get injured, even losing its legs if you continue to tug.
- The best way to pick up and move a caterpillar is to place a piece of paper or a leaf in front of it and gently nudge it from behind. The caterpillar will crawl onto the paper or leaf to avoid being touched. You can then move it along with its temporary perch.
- Avoid dropping caterpillars—they can die from even a short fall, even just a few centimeters.
- If you need to touch a caterpillar, wash your hands first. Caterpillars are fragile and can be harmed by bacteria on human skin.
- Some caterpillars have spiky hairs or spines that can cause itching or even pierce your skin. It's best to avoid handling these species with bare hands.
Create a home for caterpillars
House caterpillars in a suitable container. Caterpillars don't need an elaborate home—a clean 4-liter jar or a small aquarium works perfectly. These containers are easy to clean and allow you to observe your caterpillar closely.
- Cover the jar's opening with a piece of mesh or netting and secure it with a rubber band to allow airflow. Avoid poking holes in the lid (as some websites suggest) because caterpillars might try to crawl through and injure themselves on the sharp edges.
- If you're raising multiple caterpillars, ensure each one has space three times its body size to move around. This prevents overcrowding in their habitat.
Line the bottom of the container with paper towels or soil. It's a good idea to place a layer of paper towels at the bottom of the caterpillar's home to absorb moisture and catch waste. This makes cleaning the container easy—simply remove the dirty paper and replace it with fresh sheets.
- However, use paper towels only if you know the caterpillar species you're raising will pupate above ground.
- If you're raising a species that pupates underground (or if you're unsure), spread a layer of soil or sand about 5 cm thick at the bottom. This gives the caterpillar a place to burrow.
- The soil or sand should be slightly damp—but not so wet that it sticks to the sides of the container. Caterpillars are sensitive to moisture levels.
Place a few sticks inside the container. Adding sticks to the caterpillar's habitat is beneficial for several reasons:
- First, the sticks provide something for the caterpillar to climb on if it needs to reach food.
- Second, the caterpillar may choose to hang from a stick to pupate. Make sure the stick is securely positioned so it doesn't topple over.
- Third, when the pupa transforms into a butterfly, it will need a perch to spread its wings and dry them.
Maintain humidity in the container. Most caterpillars prefer a slightly humid environment, and the best way to achieve this is by occasionally misting the container with a spray bottle.
- Be careful not to make the container too wet, as excessive moisture can lead to mold growth inside the container and on the caterpillar.
Feeding the Caterpillar
Find the caterpillar's host plant. A caterpillar's primary job is to eat, eat, and eat, so the most important part of caring for one is providing a constant supply of fresh food.
- Start by offering the caterpillar leaves from the plant where you found it, as this is likely its host plant.
- Observe whether the caterpillar eats the leaves. If it does—congratulations! You've identified its host plant. Now, simply keep providing fresh leaves until the caterpillar pupates.
If you don't know the caterpillar's host plant, try offering it different types of leaves. Caterpillars are picky eaters, and each species prefers specific plants. In fact, most caterpillars will starve rather than eat unfamiliar food. So, if your caterpillar refuses to eat the leaves from the plant where you found it, you'll need to identify its correct food source through trial and error.
- In this case, it's best to collect a variety of leaves from the area where you found the caterpillar and place them in the container. Observe carefully to see which leaves it eats. If it chooses one, remove the others and continue feeding it the preferred leaves.
- If you're struggling to find the right plant, consult field guides like Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars or Caterpillars of Eastern Forests. These guides provide information on the preferred food sources of various caterpillar species, saving you time.
- If you can't access these guides, try offering common caterpillar food sources such as cherry, oak, willow, poplar, birch, apple, and birch trees. You might also include flowers alongside leaves, as some caterpillars prefer feeding on them.
- If you can't find the right plant, it's best to release the caterpillar back where you found it. This way, it can search for its preferred food on its own; otherwise, it may starve.
Keep the leaves fresh. Caterpillars won't eat old or dried leaves, so it's crucial to provide them with a constant supply of fresh, green foliage. How often you need to replace the leaves depends on the plant species—some may stay fresh for a week, while others need daily replacement.
- A great way to preserve leaves is to place them in a jar of water inside the caterpillar's container. The water will keep the leaves fresh and green for longer.
- However, caterpillars can sometimes slip off the leaves and drown in the water. To prevent this, wrap the stems with paper towels or cotton. This creates a safer environment for the caterpillar.
- You can also use inexpensive flower tubes from a florist to hold the leaves. The narrow openings of these tubes reduce the risk of the caterpillar falling into the water.
- When adding new leaves, remember to remove old, dried ones. Clean the container regularly, disposing of caterpillar waste and debris.
- Be cautious of spiders or other predators hiding in the leaves. If they're present, they might prey on your caterpillar, which is something you definitely want to avoid! Always inspect leaves thoroughly before adding them to the container.
You don't need to provide water for caterpillars. Caterpillars don't drink water—they absorb moisture from their food.
- However, if the caterpillar seems dry or you want to increase humidity, rinse the leaves and place them in the container without drying them.
- The water droplets on the leaves will provide the necessary moisture for the caterpillar.
Transforming Caterpillars into Butterflies
Don't worry if the caterpillar stops eating and becomes sluggish. If your caterpillar suddenly stops eating, becomes lethargic, or changes color, it might be preparing to molt or pupate, which is completely normal.
- The caterpillar might also become more active than usual, constantly moving around the container. This could mean it's searching for a spot to pupate.
- Unfortunately, these behaviors can also indicate illness, so it's best to avoid handling the caterpillar during this time. Wait and see if it successfully pupates.
- If you're raising multiple caterpillars and one dies, remove it immediately to prevent the spread of disease.
Ensure the chrysalis hangs above the ground. When the caterpillar is ready, it will form a chrysalis and begin its transformation into a butterfly or moth. Moth caterpillars burrow into the soil to create cocoons, while butterfly caterpillars form chrysalises that hang above the ground.
- You don't need to worry about underground cocoons, but you may need to reposition or rehang chrysalises if they're in an unsuitable spot or have fallen from their original location.
- If the chrysalis is in a place where the butterfly won't have enough space to spread its wings, it's best to move it. Handle the chrysalis gently and hang it on a stick or attach it to the side of the container.
- You can do this by threading a string through the pointed end of the chrysalis or using a small pin to secure it in place.
Clean the container and maintain humidity. Once the caterpillar has formed a chrysalis, clean the container by removing waste and old food. Although the chrysalis is alive, it doesn't need food or water.
- Leave the sticks in the container when cleaning. The chrysalis will need these sticks when it emerges, as the butterfly will need a perch to spread its wings. Without a perch, the butterfly's wings may not develop properly, leading to its death.
- Maintain humidity by checking the container every few days. If the air is too dry, the chrysalis may dry out, but excessive moisture can cause mold. Both conditions can hinder the transformation.
- If the soil at the bottom is too dry, mist it lightly with water. Wipe off any soil that sticks to the sides of the container.
- Consult a caterpillar or butterfly guide for the optimal temperature and humidity levels for the species you're raising.
Wait for the chrysalis to darken or become transparent. Now, all that's left is to wait! Some butterflies and moths emerge within 8 days, while others may take months or even years to complete the process.
- If you collected the caterpillar in the fall, it might overwinter as a chrysalis and emerge in the spring—a process called "overwintering."
- Signs that a butterfly is about to emerge include the chrysalis darkening or becoming transparent.
- Keep a close eye on the chrysalis during this time, as the butterfly can emerge in just seconds, and you won't want to miss it!
- Since moth cocoons are underground, you won't be able to observe their changes.
- If the chrysalis turns very dark, it may indicate that it has died. You can test this by gently bending the abdomen of the chrysalis—if it stays bent, it's likely dead.
Release the butterfly. When the chrysalis transforms into a butterfly, it will climb onto a stick and hang upside down until its wings dry and expand. This is a crucial process and can take several hours.
- Once the butterfly starts flapping its wings and flying around the container, it's time to release it. Butterflies don't like being confined, and their wings can get damaged if they keep hitting the sides of the container trying to escape.
- Take the container outside to the area where you originally found the caterpillar, open the lid, and let the butterfly fly free.
Tips
- Avoid placing the caterpillar container near air conditioning units.
- You can find caterpillars in tree crevices, under logs or rocks, on sidewalks, and in parking lots.
- If raising caterpillars indoors, place the container in a cool room near a window.
- Regardless of the container you use, ensure it provides plenty of fresh air for the caterpillars.
- Place two or more caterpillars in the container to prevent them from feeling lonely.
- Use a container that is at least three times the size of the caterpillar's body.
- Research the type of caterpillar you're raising to avoid bites or stings!
Warnings
- Do not handle caterpillars improperly, as some may bite or sting you.
