The activity of caring for a caterpillar until it turns into a butterfly can be a valuable experience for both children and adults. Caterpillars can be pets for a while and the process of changing into butterflies is very beautiful to look at. As long as you provide enough food and good shelter, the caterpillar's health and happiness can be easily maintained until it turns into a butterfly.
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Part 1 of 4: Looking for Caterpillars
Step 1. Find out what types of caterpillars usually live in your area
There are about 20,000 species of butterflies on planet earth, and about 25,000 types of butterflies live in Indonesia. Before you go looking for caterpillars, you need to know what kind of caterpillars live in the area where you live.
- You can try to find it through books or the internet.
- Try asking your city librarian to find books or magazines that can help find the types of caterpillar species that live in your area.
- In the US, there is a site that lists wildlife living in each state that can help you find caterpillars here:
Step 2. Determine the type of caterpillar you are looking for
Once you know the types of caterpillars that live in your area, it's time to decide what type of caterpillar you want to keep. Different types of caterpillars will turn into different types of moths and butterflies. So choose based on the appearance of the caterpillar, or the type of butterfly that will emerge from the cocoon.
- Some caterpillars should not be touched. You need to keep this in mind when choosing the type of caterpillar to keep.
- It's best to choose a caterpillar species whose food is easy to find. The caterpillar likes the leaves of the "host plant" it lives in.
Step 3. Check the plants in your yard
Different types of caterpillars (which will become different types of butterflies) like to live in different types of plants. Therefore, you must choose the type of caterpillar you want to keep in order to find out where to find it. Plants that butterflies love are called "host plants". Here are some examples of host plants for some caterpillar species:
- The Monarch caterpillar loves the Milkweed plant.
- Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillars love to be on spicebush plants.
- Zebra Swallowtail caterpillars live in papaya trees (paw-paw).
- Black Swallowtail caterpillars are commonly found on parsley, fennel sowa, or fennel plants.
- The Luna Moth caterpillar lives on walnut and sweetgum plants.
- Cecropia Moth, Viceroy, or Red-Spotted Purple caterpillars are usually present on kers fruit trees.
Step 4. Start the search in the dry season
Different types of caterpillars have their respective active periods of the year, but most can be found in the dry season. Chances are you won't find caterpillars early in the rainy season.
- Some caterpillars enter a period similar to hibernation during the colder months.
- Other caterpillars lay eggs that remain dormant until the dry season.
Step 5. Look for caterpillar bite marks on the leaves
Maybe you can't find the caterpillar easily. Caterpillars usually survive by blending in with the environment. You can find plants that caterpillars are likely to live by looking for signs of feeding on the plants.
- Different types of caterpillars will leave different feeding marks. So you need to know what kind of markings the caterpillars want to keep.
- You can find sample photos of caterpillars feeding on this site:
Step 6. Catch the caterpillars by letting them come
The caterpillar clings tightly to the leaves and twigs it lives in. So, the caterpillar should not be pulled because it can injure or even break the caterpillar's leg. Instead, stick your hand, leaf, or twig in the caterpillar's path and let it rise so it can be moved.
- Try not to touch the hairy part of the caterpillar as this is a caterpillar's defense mechanism and can cause skin irritation.
- Always wash your hands after handling caterpillars.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing the Caterpillar Habitat
Step 1. Choose a container for your caterpillar
Caterpillars don't need elaborate containers to stay healthy and safe. You can use a 4 liter jar, aquarium, or reptile cage as a caterpillar home. Make sure the container has a lid and good airflow. Line the bottom of the container with kitchen paper for easy cleaning.
- Cages with open tops can be covered with cheesecloth. This cloth is not bitten by caterpillars and allows air to flow smoothly in the cage.
- If you want to make an air hole in the lid sometimes, make sure it's so small that the caterpillars can't get through.
Step 2. Place a twig or branch into the caterpillar's habitat
Caterpillars need twigs and branches to crawl and ultimately hang when entering the pupa stage. In addition, twigs/branches will make the caterpillar feel more comfortable in its cage.
- Make sure you lean some of the branches against the wall or the top of the cage so that they stand up straight. Thus, the caterpillar has a place to climb.
- Also lay down some branches at the bottom of the caterpillar cage.
Step 3. Make sure your cage is safe for caterpillars
Check your cage one more time to make sure it's safe for the caterpillars. Caterpillars can injure themselves easily or get caught if the cage is not properly arranged.
- Caterpillars can be cut by sharp edges. Make sure the area around the hole is bent or sanded so it doesn't hurt the caterpillars.
- Look at the position of the branches and make sure the caterpillars don't get trapped under or between the branches.
Step 4. Make sure there is enough room for more than one caterpillar
If you have more than one caterpillar, the cage should provide enough space for each caterpillar to live. Make sure the cage size is at least three times the size of each caterpillar that will live in it.
If you plan to use the same cage until the caterpillars turn into butterflies, make sure there is enough space for each butterfly to spread its wings when it emerges from the cocoon
Part 3 of 4: Caring for Caterpillars
Step 1. Place the feed in the cage
The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the host plant. Put some leaves from the caterpillar host plant in the cage for the caterpillars to eat.
- Caterpillars have their own feeding schedule so don't worry if they don't eat after you put the leaves in the cage.
- If the caterpillar has more than one host plant, vary the leaves you put in the cage so the caterpillars can choose their food.
- If you don't know the caterpillar's host plant, put several types of leaves and watch what leaves the caterpillars eat. From now on, feed the leaves as caterpillar feed.
Step 2. Provide a water source for the caterpillars
Caterpillars need water every day. Do not use water containers because the caterpillars can fall and drown. Instead, just spray water daily on the leaves and the caterpillars will drink the dew.
- You can also wet the leaves before placing them in the cage so that the caterpillars get enough water.
- If the caterpillars start to look very dry, try spraying more water on the container.
Step 3. Clean the cage every day
You need to remove the uneaten leaves every day. Depending on the plant, the leaves can last up to a week, or dry out in just a few days. You should also replace the kitchen tissue that is used as the base for the cage.
- Kitchen towels need to be replaced to get rid of dirt and other waste substances that can make caterpillars sick.
- Remove old leaves each time you put new leaves.
Step 4. Remove the caterpillar pupa
If the cage does not have enough space for the caterpillars to turn into cocoons and butterflies, you will need to move the cocoons to a larger location.
- Make sure the new cage is large enough for the butterfly to emerge from the cocoon and spread its wings.
- Be careful when moving the cocoons. You can handle the cocoons, as long as you are careful.
Part 4 of 4: Caring for a Butterfly Pupa
Step 1. Hang the cocoons in their cages
If you're moving the cocoons, it's a good idea to just move the twigs with the cocoons attached to them to a new, larger location. If that's not possible, here are some ways you can do it.
- You can use hot glue that has cooled a bit so that it sticks to attach the pointed end of the cocoon to a stick.
- You can pierce the pointed end of the cocoon with a needle and thread so that it can be hung in the cage. However, do so with caution as you could hurt the caterpillar in the cocoon.
Step 2. Adjust your forecast for the season
Most cocoons hatch into butterflies within 10-14 days, but some do not hatch during the colder months.
- Caterpillars most quickly turn into butterflies in summer and spring.
- Caterpillars usually stay in cocoons during the fall.
Step 3. Notice the change in the color of the cocoon
You can tell when the butterfly comes out by changing the color of the cocoon. Some cocoons darken and others become clear, depending on the species of moth or butterfly inside.
- If the color of the cocoons changes, the butterflies will most likely come out in 1-2 days.
- If the color of the cocoons becomes very dark, the caterpillars inside are likely dead.
Step 4. Feed the butterfly
Many butterflies and moths do not have a digestive tract once they reach the butterfly stage. These butterflies or moths usually only have a few days to live. Others can eat so you will need to provide leaves from the host plant so that the butterflies/moths can eat them.
- You can even release the butterfly so you can find a mate.
- You can release moths or butterflies by opening the cage and letting them fly out.
