what do i need to keep a caterpiller and watch it go from a cocoon to a butterfly?

Question

i seen my uncle do it for a school project or something when i was little..but i wanna do it so my kids can see the change.. how would i do it? im thinking a big glass jar or a small cage, maybe putting a stick with a plant? maybe?.. any ideas? or how should i do it?

Answer 1

I used an old peanut butter jar with nail holes in the the metal lid and a lot of leaves and a stick inside. The Caterpillar ate the leaves and then used the stick to form his cocoon. I watched him every day and when he started to hatch I took him outside to release him. The major problem you are going to have is to make sure the Caterpillar has enough food, other than that they will be fine.

You want to remove the cracking cocoon from the jar before the butterfly comes out so they can go free and be wild and natural, but you can still watch the process and make sure no animal comes along to disturb it. In my case, I left it it on the sidewalk and didn't account for my father, who stepped on it. Oh well at least I got to see it hatch.

Answer 2

Not much. It's in a cocoon, so you don't need to feed it. Just pop in with its twig (try not to disturb it or shake it; I think it can hurt the butterfly)... and make sure you let it go after it hatches. Don't touch the mature butterfly or you could ruin its wings.

Depending on where you live, monarch butterflies are easiest.

Answer 3

They sell kits at Target. You buy the kit, place the order, and they send you the caterpillar and give you everything you need to do what you want to do, which is have a caterpillar that will become a butterfly.