Don’t use jar lids with holes in them, however, as these don’t provide adequate ventilation and can also cut the delicate caterpillars with sharp edges around the holes. Put a two inch layer of dirt and grass on the bottom of every container if you think your caterpillar may pupate below ground. If not, a layer of paper towels or newspaper will do fine.
Milkweed - Monarch Butterfly Spice bush - Spice bush Swallowtail Paw-Paw - Tiger Swallowtail Thistle - Painted Lady Parsley, dill and fennel - Black Swallowtail Cherry - Cecropia Moth, Viceroy, Red-Spotted Purple If it’s not caterpillar season, or you simply don’t have time to go caterpillar searching, consider buying them from a caterpillar supplier. We’ll discuss that in the last section.
Don’t pick it up with your hands, for three reasons: it’ll make it more difficult to put them in their new home (they cling tightly to surfaces they’re walking on, and scraping them off your hand can hurt them); bacteria on your hands can give them infections; and some caterpillars are poisonous (see Warnings). Place the stick with the caterpillar on it in the container. The stick is important, as it will provide the resting place for the chrysalis.
If you’re not sure, however, consult a field guide and go out and get leaves from its host plant; even caterpillars like choices. [1] X Research source
If the caterpillar is on the food you’re trying to replace, don’t try to pull it off because they cling tightly and their legs could rip. Instead, put in the new branch, let them make their way to it themselves, and then take out the old branch.
If you’d like to make their environment more humid, put some sort of clear plastic or cellophane around their home. This seals in the heat, increasing humidity. It’s especially good for admirals and viceroys. [2] X Research source
Leave the chrysalis untouched. At this point they will not need food or water, only the occasional misting to create a humid environment. Caterpillars poop a lot. You may wish to put some newspaper in your caterpillar condo to catch the frass and make it easy to dispose of. It’s very important to get rid of – if frass stays in their refuge, they could get sick and die. [3] X Research source
The alternative to this is that they may be sick. If your caterpillar dies, dispose of it automatically as to not infect the other healthy caterpillars.
If necessary, move the branch or object that the chrysalis is hanging on gently to accommodate their emergence. But again, be very, very gentle. Move slowly. You do not want it to drop, hurting the to-be butterfly. If the chrysalis falls off, attach the tip to a piece of paper with hot glue that is slightly cooled and wait until the glue hardens. Then pin the paper to cardboard or cork and place it in the container.
The only thing to do during this period is to mist their container as normal. They don’t need food or water, just a consistent environment. You’ll like see the chrysalis changing colors. When it becomes clear, the time is imminent. It can happen in the blink of an eye, so if you want to see it, don’t go anywhere. It’ll then hang for a few hours, letting its wing spread and fully form. If the pupa becomes dark, it may be dead. Try to bend it – if it stays bent, it’s likely dead. [4] X Research source
Don’t be dismayed if you end up raising moths instead of butterflies. Moths have markings just like a butterfly; while they will be a lot less colorful, the markings are still likely to be intricate and amazing. Even the varying shades of monotone colors are beautiful to behold in nature.
Butterflies need to be free to truly thrive. It’s only possible to contain them if you have a large garden they can stay in. What’s more, many species migrate – they can only stay with you so long if you want them to live.
If you wound up with the Luna Moth, Cecropia Moth, or Polyphemus Moth, don’t worry about feeding them. These curious creatures don’t have digestive systems. [5] X Research source
For butterflies, set them up in a cage with a water bottle and host clippings next to the light source (preferably sunlight). This will encourage her to oviposit. You may also want to keep her in a dark, cool area for a couple of days to help her acclimate to her new surroundings. [7] X Research source Moths are much easier than butterflies. If you catch an adult female moth, you can simply place her in a large paper bag, fold it up, and leave her there for a couple of days. She’ll likely deposit eggs on the inside of the bag. Tear the bag, removing the eggs without touching them, and place them into a more suitable container. [8] X Research source
The only drawback to this is that you still have to find their food, the Milkweed. If it’s not in your area, you’ll have to order or grow it to successfully raise the Monarch.
However, this is a little less exciting then finding then on your own and knowing what they really like to eat. If you can, spend some time scoping out your garden. Exhaust all possibilities before you turn to the caterpillar farm.
