Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Caterpillars are fun and easy to keep pets for both children and adults. As long as there is adequate supply of food, they will not require a lot of care. And the best thing is what? You will see the nymphs or the caterpillars wrapped themselves in a highly sophisticated cocoon, and then a few days or weeks later, they transform into beautiful butterflies like magic. What reward is more deserving than that? Read on to learn how to properly care for moths and turn them into butterflies.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Finding moths

1. 

   Choose the right season of the year to find moths. The best times to hunt for moths are spring and summer, as most butterflies and moths will lay eggs around this time. However, there are some species - like the caterpillar - that usually appear in the fall. Winter is the only time of the year where you won't find caterpillars.
   • In the wild, the survival rate of moths is 2%, meaning that only 2 out of 100 female eggs that lay moth survive to adulthood. This is because a large number of predators include moths on their list of food sources. So when you have caterpillars as an ornamental, you also give them a better chance of survival.
   • Note that autumn moths will pupate during winter, so you'll have to wait much longer to see them become butterflies than spring and summer butterflies. This time is usually around 2-3 weeks.

2. 

   
   
   Look for moths on host plants. The most likely places to find caterpillars are on host plants, as they are usually close to the food source. If you are not picky about which caterpillars to keep, you can find them on the leaves of any plant in your garden or park. But if you want to keep a particular caterpillar / butterfly / moth, you need to look for special plants. Here are some of the most common:
   • Monarch butterfly is most commonly found on milkweed (Milkweed).
   • Spicebush Swallowtail is most common on Spicebush.
   • The Zebra Swallowtail is most common on the American papaya tree (Paaw Paw).
   • Black Swallowtail is most common on herbal plants like parsley and dill.
   • The Luna Moth moth is most commonly found on walnut leaves and on Sweet Gum plants.
   • The moth Cecropia Moths, the Viceroy butterfly and the Red-Spotted Purple butterfly are most common on the leaves of the cherry tree.

3. 

   
   
   Order special caterpillars online. If you want to keep caterpillars very nicely, or if you can't find moths in the wild, order them from a specialist or online.
   • You can buy caterpillars or order them in the larval stage, before they hatch. If you're only interested in butterflies, you can order the nymphs - and then just wait for them to appear.
   • Some of the most common moth species are the monarch butterfly (you can order it at www.MonarchWatch.org), and the Painted Lady moth. Painted Lady moth caterpillars are easy to keep, as they are placed in a growing medium and raised until they pupate, so there's no need to find a host plant for them.

4. 

   
   
   Be careful when handling the caterpillar. Once you have found a caterpillar, you should handle it correctly. If you try to pull the caterpillar up, it can grip the surface very well and can easily injure, even cut off your legs if you keep pulling.
   • The best way to pick up the caterpillar and move it is to place a piece of paper or leaves in front of the worm, then gently push behind it. The caterpillar will crawl onto the paper or leaf to avoid being touched. You can then move the caterpillar over its temporary perched branch.
   • Remember not to drop the caterpillars - they can die when dropped from a height, even just a few centimeters tall.
   • If it is necessary to touch the caterpillar, it is best to wash your hands first. The caterpillars are very weak and can get bacteria from human skin.
   • Some moths have spiky or pointed hair that can cause itching or even stabbing your skin. Therefore, it is best to avoid touching these moths with bare hands.
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Part 2 of 4: Making a house for the caterpillar

1. 

   Keep the caterpillar in a suitable container. The caterpillar doesn't need a sophisticated "home" - a clean 4-liter bottle or a small aquarium is just as beautiful. These containers are easy to clean, and it's easy to spot your caterpillar.
   • Cover the mouth of the jar with a cloth or net and tie it up with rubber to allow air to circulate. Don't just poke holes in the lid (as suggested by some websites) as caterpillars may find a way through these holes and injure themselves with the sharp edges.
   • If you want to keep more than one caterpillar, give each one a space three times their body size for them to move. This way you won't have to worry that the moth's house is too cramped.

2. 

   Line the bottom of the jar with a paper towel or dirt. You should put a tissue under the caterpillar's "floor" to absorb moisture and collect the worm's waste. This way, you can easily clean the jar by discarding dirty paper and replacing it with a new one.
   • However, you should only place a tissue on the bottom of the bottle if you know that the caterpillar will pupate on the ground.
   • If you have a moth that pupates on the ground (or if you're not sure), spread the bottom of the jar with a layer of soil or sand about 5 cm thick. This way, the caterpillar will have room to descend.
   • The soil or sand should be slightly damp - but not so wet that it sticks to the walls of the flask. Moths are quite sensitive to moisture.

3. 

   Put a few sticks in the jar. It is also a good idea to place a few sticks in the moth's house for a number of reasons:
   • First, the caterpillar will have room to crawl if it needs to reach for food.
   • Second, the caterpillar may choose to hang on a rod and pupate. Therefore, you should place the stick in a firm position so that it does not tip over.
   • Third, when it pupates into a butterfly, it will need a place to spread its wings and let it dry.

4. 

   Maintain moisture in the bottle. Most moths prefer a slightly humid environment, and the best way to get the moisture you want is to mist with a water spray occasionally.
   • Be careful, however, not to get the pitcher pitcher wet, as too high humidity can cause mold to grow inside and on caterpillars.
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Part 3 of 4: Feeding the caterpillars

1. 

   Find the moth's host plant. The caterpillar's job is just to eat, eat, and eat, so the most important thing when taking care of the caterpillar is to constantly provide them with a fresh source of food.
   • The first thing you should do is give the caterpillar a few leaves that you find them on, as it is most likely their host plant.
   • Look for the caterpillars to see if they will eat the leaves you give. If the caterpillar is eating - congratulations - you have found its host! Now all you need to do is supply the fresh leaves until your moth pupates.

2. 

   If you don't know the host plant for the caterpillar, try giving them several different types of leaves. The caterpillars are very picky eaters, and each species eats only a few plants. In fact, most moths will starve to death, not eat strange food. So if the worm refuses to eat the leaves you find it on, you need to find the right food source through the testing process.
   • In this case, it is best to pick a few different leaves where you found the caterpillar and put it in the jar, then carefully observe whether it eats any of the leaves. If so, you can remove the other leaves and simply feed the caterpillar with the leaf of your choice.
   • If you find it difficult to find the right plants for the caterpillars to eat, you can consult a plant and animal guide such as Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars, (Peterson's First Caterpillar Guide) or Caterpillars of Eastern Forests (Caterpillar in the eastern forests).These guidebooks will give you information on each moth's favorite food sources, saving you time in experimenting.
   • If you can't find any of the above manuals, try some of the most common caterpillar food sources like trees: cherry, oak, willow, python, birch, apple, and birch. You should also try taking the flower next to the leaf, as some moths like to eat this part of the plant.
   • If you can't find a plant your caterpillar likes to eat, it is probably best to let it go back. That way at least it can find the right food on its own, otherwise it will starve.

3. 

   Keep the leaves fresh. Caterpillars will not eat leaves that have been left old or that have dried out, so it is important that you keep providing them with fresh, green leaves. How often to provide fresh leaves depends on the plant species - some plants can stay fresh for up to a week, others require a daily change.
   • A good way to store food is to put it in a water bottle and place it in the moth's "house". Water will keep the leaves fresh and green for a longer time.
   • However, sometimes the caterpillar can slip off a plant's leaf, fall into a water bottle, and drown. To prevent this, use a tissue or cotton wool to stuff the stalks. This will be safer for the caterpillar.
   • You can also buy inexpensive flower arrangements at a florist to place leaves in them. The mouths of these tubes are so narrow that the risk of the moth falling into the water can be reduced.
   • When you are feeding new leaves, be sure to remove old, dry leaves. Clean the caterpillar tank clean, removing any worm waste or other debris.
   • Another thing to keep in mind is that spiders or other predators can lurk in the leaves of a plant. If this is the case, the caterpillar can be eaten by them when you put the leaves in the jar, which is not what you want! So you need to carefully check every branch before feeding the worm.

4. 

   You do not need to supply the moths with water. The caterpillars have no need to drink water - they absorb water from the food.
   • However, if you find the caterpillar seems a bit dry or want to increase the moisture in the jar, rinse the leaves and place in the jar without drying it.
   • The remaining water droplets on the leaves will provide the moth's essential moisture.
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Part 4 of 4: Turning caterpillars into butterflies

1. 

   Don't worry if the caterpillars stop eating and become lethargic. Don't worry if you notice the caterpillar suddenly stops eating, lethargy, or starts to change color - it is probably just about to lose hair or pupate, so this is okay.
   • The caterpillar can also be more active than usual, crawling around in a jar. In this case, the caterpillar is probably looking for a place to pupate.
   • Unfortunately, these can also be a sign that the caterpillar is sick, so you should avoid touching it during this time. Wait and see if your moth has successfully pupated.
   • If you have a lot of caterpillars and one dies, remove the body of the worm immediately to prevent the spread of the disease.

2. 

   Make sure the pupa hangs above the ground. When the moth is ready, it will pupate and begin the process of turning into a butterfly or moth. The moth will bury itself in the ground to make cocoons, and the caterpillar will pupate above the ground.
   • 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 are in an improper position or if they fall out of their original position.
   • If you find the pupa in a place that doesn't have enough room to spread its wings when it turns into a butterfly, it is probably best to move it somewhere else. Hold the capsule gently and hang it on a stick or attach it to the wall of the jar.
   • You can do this by threading a thread through the tip of the pupa, or by inserting a small needle into it and hanging it in place.

3. 

   Rinse the jar and keep the moisture in it. Once the caterpillar has pupated, it's a good idea to rinse out the caterpillar's pitcher and remove waste and old food. Although the pup is still alive, it does not need food or water.
   • Leave the sticks in the jar when cleaning. Nymphs will need these sticks when they turn butterflies, as they will sit on the plants to spread their wings. If a butterfly has nothing to sit on, its wings will not grow normally and it will die.
   • In addition, you need to maintain moisture by checking every few days. If the air in the bottle is too dry, the pupa will dry out, but too much humidity can also cause the pupae to become moldy. Both of these cases interfere with butterfly pupation.
   • If the bottom of the jar is too dry, spray some water on the soil. Wipe off if any soil is stuck on the wall of the jar.
   • Refer to the caterpillar / butterfly guidebook for the correct temperature and humidity for the pupa you are keeping.

4. 

   Wait for the pupa to turn dark or transparent. Now the rest is just waiting! Some butterflies and moths will show up within 8 days, but others can take months or even years to complete the process.
   • If you catch a caterpillar in the fall, it is likely that it will spend the winter months pupate and only turn into butterflies in the spring - a process called "winter avoidance".
   • Some of the signs that a butterfly is about to appear are a dark, even transparent pupa.
   • Pay close attention to the nymph from this point, as butterflies can emerge from the pupa in seconds, and you won't want to miss that moment!
   • Since the moth's cocoon is on the ground, you won't be able to observe its change.
   • If the pupa turns very dark, it may be a sign that it is dead. You can try this by gently bending the pupa over its abdomen - if the pup stays this curvature, it is most likely dead.

5. 

   Release the butterfly. When it pupates into a butterfly, it will crawl onto the stick and hang upside down on the stick until the wings dry and spread. This is a very important process and can take many hours.
   • When the butterfly begins to flap its wings and fly around the jar, it's time to let it go. Butterflies don't like being locked up, and their wings can hurt if they keep flapping their wings against the side of the jar to try to escape.
   • Take out the container, go to the place where you initially caught the caterpillar, open the lid and let the butterfly fly away happily.
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Advice

• Do not place the caterpillar tank near the air conditioner.
• You can find caterpillars in cracks in trees, under trees or rocks, on sidewalks and parking lots.
• If you have moths indoors, place the pot in a cool room near the window.
• No matter what container you use as a moth's home, keep them with plenty of fresh air.
• Place two or more moths in the jar to keep them from being lonely.
• Keep the caterpillars in a jar 3 times larger than their body size.
• You need to know a little about the caterpillar you are keeping to avoid being bitten or stung!

Warning

• Don't handle the caterpillar the wrong way, as some will bite or sting you.