In the wild, caterpillar typically have a 2% survival rate, which means that for every 100 eggs a female butterfly or moth lays, only two will survive to maturity. [1] X Research source This is due to the large number of predators who list caterpillars as a food source. Therefore, by keeping the caterpillar as a pet, you are giving it a much greater chance of survival. Be aware that autumn caterpillars will most likely pupate for the entire winter, so you’ll have to wait a lot longer for the moth or butterfly to emerge than with spring or summer butterflies, which typically emerge within 2 to 3 weeks.
The caterpillars of Monarch butterflies are most commonly found on the Milkweed plant. The caterpillars of Spicebush Swallowtails are most commonly found on the Spicebush. The caterpillars of Zebra Swallowtails are most commonly found on the leaves of the Paw Paw tree. The caterpillars of Black Swallowtails are most commonly found on herbs such as parsley, dill and fennel. The caterpillars of Luna Moths are most commonly found on the leaves of Walnut and Sweet Gum trees. The caterpillars of Cecropia Moths, Viceroy butterflies and Red-Spotted Purple butterflies are most commonly found on the leaves of Cherry Trees. [3] X Research source
You can purchase caterpillars or order them in their larvae state, before they have even hatched. If you’re just interested in the butterflies or moths, you can order pupae - then all you need to do is wait for them to emerge. Some of the most commonly available caterpillars are Monarchs, which are available to order at www. MonarchWatch. org, and Painted Lady caterpillars. The Painted Lady caterpillars are particularly easy to keep, as they are delivered with a growth medium which sustains them until they pupate, eliminating the need to find their host plant. [3] X Research source
The best way to pick up and transport a caterpillar is to take a sheet of paper or a leaf and place it in front of the caterpillar. Then give the caterpillar a little nudge on the behind. The caterpillar will then walk forwards onto the leaf or paper, in order to avoid your touch. You can then carry the caterpillar around on its temporary perch. Just make sure not to drop the caterpillars - dropping them from a height of even a few inches can kill them. If you need to handle the caterpillar, it is best to wash your hands first. Caterpillars are very fragile and can pick up bacterial infections from human skin. Some caterpillars have prickly hairs or spikes which can irritate or even sting your skin. Therefore, it’s best to avoid touching these types of caterpillars with your bare hands. [4] X Research source
Cover the container with a piece of cheesecloth or mesh and secure with a rubber band. This will allow proper ventilation. Don’t just poke holes in a screw-on lid (as some sites advise) as the caterpillars may attempt to escape through these holes and injure themselves on the sharp edges. If you’re housing more than one caterpillar, just make sure that each caterpillar has around three times it’s body size in extra space to move around in. [6] X Research source This will prevent overcrowding.
However, you should only line your caterpillar container with paper towels if you know that you have a species of caterpillar which pupates above ground. If you have a species of caterpillar which pupates underground (or if you’re not sure what species it is) you should line the bottom of the container with a two-inch layer of soil or sand. This way, the caterpillar has something to bury into. The soil or sand should be slightly damp - but not damp enough that it causes condensation on the sides of the container. Caterpillars are quite sensitive to humidity. [3] X Research source
Firstly, the caterpillar will have something to climb on, which it may need to do in order to reach it’s food. Secondly, the caterpillar may choose to pupate hanging from the stick. As a result, you should make sure that the stick is in a secure position and not in danger of falling over. Thirdly, once the butterfly or moth emerges from the pupa it will need somewhere to hang upside down in order to spread and dry its wings.
However, you will need to be careful not to make the container damp either, as too much moisture can encourage the growth of mold inside the container and on the caterpillar itself. [3] X Research source
The first thing to do is provide the caterpillar with some leaves from the plant or tree on which you found it, as there is a good chance that this is its host plant. Observe the caterpillar closely to see if eats the leaves you have provided. If it does - congratulations - you have found your caterpillar’s host plant! Now all you need to do provide your caterpillar with a fresh supply of these leaves until it pupates.
The best thing to do in this situation is to gather a selection of different types of leaves from the place where you found the caterpillar and put them in its container. Then observe the caterpillar closely to see if it eats any of them. If it does, you can remove the other types of leaves and simply continue to provide the winning leaf. If you’re having trouble finding a plant that the caterpillar will eat, it might be a good idea to consult a field guide such as Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars, or Caterpillars of Eastern Forests. These guides will match up caterpillar species with their favored food source, saving you a lot of time. [3] X Research source If you can’t get your hands on these field guides, try some of the most common caterpillar food sources, as follows: cherry, oak, willow, alder, poplar, apple and birch. Also try providing the flowers as well as the leaves, as some caterpillars prefer this part of the plant. [4] X Research source If you simply cannot find the type of plant your caterpillar likes to eat, it may be best to release it in the same place where you found it. At least then it will have some chance of finding its own food source, otherwise it will probably starve.
A good way to prolong the life of the food supply is to place it in a glass jar of water inside the caterpillar’s home. The water will keep the leaves fresh and green for longer. However, sometimes caterpillars can fall off the leaves into the glass jar and drown. To prevent this, stuff cotton wool or paper towel around the stems of the leaves. This will keep your caterpillar safe. [14] X Research source Alternatively, you can buy floral tubes very cheaply from a florist to place the leaves in. These have very narrow brims, decreasing the chance that your caterpillar will fall in. When you provide your caterpillar with new leaves, make sure to remove the old, dried out ones. Also make sure to keep the rest of the container clean, removing any caterpillar droppings or other debris. One more thing to be aware of is the possibility that spiders or other predators may be hiding amongst the leaves. If they are, they might eat your caterpillar once the leaves are placed in the container, which is the last thing you want! Therefore, you should make sure to examine all leaves and branches closely before placing them in the container. [15] X Research source
However, if your caterpillar does happen to look a little dried out, or you want to raise the moisture levels in the container, try rinsing the leaves in water and placing them in the container without drying them. The droplets of water that remain on the leaves will provide any necessary moisture.
The caterpillar may also become more active then usual, moving around its container continuously. If this is the case, it is probably just looking for a good place to pupate. Unfortunately, these behaviors may also be signs that the caterpillar is sick, so you should refrain from handling it at this time. Just wait to see if it successfully pupates. If you are keeping multiple caterpillars and one of them dies, remove the dead caterpillar from the container immediately. This will prevent any disease from spreading. [16] X Research source
While the underground cocoons do not need any attention, you may need to move or re-hang the chrysalis if it is in an unsuitable location or of it falls from its original hanging spot. If you believe the chrysalis is in too tight a spot for the emerging butterfly to spread its wings, it may be best to move it. Handle the chrysalis very gently and hang it from a stick or attach it to the side of the container. You can do this by threading a piece of string through the pointy end of the chrysalis, or by sticking a small pin through it and hanging it from a suitable location. [17] X Research source
Leave any sticks in the container when cleaning out. These will be necessary once the butterfly or moth emerges, as it will use the stick as a perch while it spreads its wings. If the butterfly or moth has nothing to perch on, its wings will not form properly and it will die. [18] X Research source Also try to keep the container humid by checking it every few days. If the the container is too dry the pupa will dry out, but if it is too moist the pupa can go moldy. Both of these things can prevent the butterfly/moth from emerging. If the soil at the bottom of the container feels very dry, mist it with some water. If you see any condensation forming on the sides of the container, wipe it off. [19] X Research source Consult a caterpillar/butterfly guide to find exact instructions regarding the optimum temperature and humidity for your species of pupa.
If you caught your caterpillar in the fall, chance are it will spend the winter months in its pupa and only emerge in the spring - this process is known as “overwintering”. Some telltale signs that a butterfly is getting ready to emerge from its chrysalis are the chrysalis turning darker in color, or even becoming clear. Keep a close eye on the chrysalis from this point on, as butterflies can emerge from their pupa in a matter of seconds and you don’t want to miss it! As moth cocoons are underground, you will not be able to observe any changes. If the chrysalis turns a very dark color, this may be an indication that the pupa is dead. Test it by gently bending the pupa around the abdominal region - if it stays bent this is a good indication that the pupa is dead. [20] X Research source
When the butterfly or moth begins to flutter its wings and starts flapping around the cage, it’s time to release it. These creatures do not like to be confined and they can damage their wings if they are continually beating them against the sides of the container, trying to escape. [21] X Research source Take the container outside, to the location where you originally found the caterpillar, open the lid and let your butterfly happily fly away.
