Getting started on raising caterpillars - Page 4 - Wildlife Gardeners

bridget1964 · 08-29-2011, 10:06 AM

Neither of these cages has caterpillars in them as they have lots of pupa at the top! I try not to have too many caterpillars/pupa in one tower.

When I am starting cats in a tower, I keep a bottle/vase/container of milkweed in the middle. I use a tray from a large pot for the bottom. This makes cleaning easy. The cats will stay on the milkweed in the vase, then will climb onto tulle to make chrysalis. They almost always go to the top, but will sometimes make chrysalis on the milkweed itself.

Here is another photo of an adult that eclosed this morning! You can see green pupa as well as dark in the photo.

Sorry the posts are fragmented and I hope you can follow my quick directions. I am unpacking lots of things from the evacuation and need to get to school today to start setting up room.

BooBooBearBecky · 08-29-2011, 02:43 PM

bridget,
Thanks for outlining the directions for making an inexpensive butterfly house and explaining how to raise the cats.

Your photo of all the chrysalis' is awesome!

I added "make a butterfly house" to my list of winter projects.
I'm really excited to give this a try next summer.

08-29-2011, 10:06 AM	#31
bridget1964 Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA	tomato cages (cont.) Neither of these cages has caterpillars in them as they have lots of pupa at the top! I try not to have too many caterpillars/pupa in one tower. When I am starting cats in a tower, I keep a bottle/vase/container of milkweed in the middle. I use a tray from a large pot for the bottom. This makes cleaning easy. The cats will stay on the milkweed in the vase, then will climb onto tulle to make chrysalis. They almost always go to the top, but will sometimes make chrysalis on the milkweed itself. Here is another photo of an adult that eclosed this morning! You can see green pupa as well as dark in the photo. Sorry the posts are fragmented and I hope you can follow my quick directions. I am unpacking lots of things from the evacuation and need to get to school today to start setting up room. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson http://mslenahan.edublogs.org/

08-29-2011, 02:43 PM	#32
BooBooBearBecky WG Operations, Facilitator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Wisconsin	bridget, Thanks for outlining the directions for making an inexpensive butterfly house and explaining how to raise the cats. Your photo of all the chrysalis' is awesome! I added "make a butterfly house" to my list of winter projects. I'm really excited to give this a try next summer. __________________ "Getting your hands dirty is the best way to keep your head clean."

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