Flicka

Yes, I know we're horse folks, but you can't keep them in your kitchen! I got some caterpillars recently as a science project for my kids. You keep them and they will form their chrysalids and change into butterflies right in the container you get with them. I thought it was kind of fun and interesting - it is actually captivating! Right now, all 4 caterpillars have formed their chrysalids and are hanging from the roof of their container. I can't wait until they hatch out as butterflies! My kids are loving this as a project - I can't recommend it enough.

Nan_Beth

Hmmm, that does sound fun! Is it too late in the season to start them? Where did you order them from ? I'd like to try it with my kids. Do they do okay when you release them?

mustangsally

I didn't know you could "raise" a butterfly. That would be a cool thing to do with my nieces as a project. Do you get ordinary caterpillars from outdoors or do you buy them at a pet store? How long does it take for the cycle to produce a butterfly?

Flicka

I ordered them online. I guess there are a ton of places where you can get them. I'd suggest checking for a site yourself and seeing if there is a recommendation for a particular butterfly that will thrive in your area. We got painted lady butterflies; that's what they sent.

I'm sure you can get them for several months. I got them about, oh, 3 weeks ago. They came and ate for a few weeks, and then they have just formed their chrysalids this past week. Apparently it will take about 7-10 days for the butterfly to be ready to hatch. We are to feed them some sugar water for a day or two, and then release them. You wouldn't want to get some in, say, September, and be releasing them in the fall; they would be less likely to survive. But certainly now and into the beginning of the summer should be fine.

I suppose you could catch some and try raising them, but I'm not sure what you would use for their food....leaves from the plant you found them on, I guess. Put them in a clear plastic container, and punch in a few holes for air. Give it a try!

OldnGrey

I can feel the excitement in this thread. It's a lovely experiment. I know because I did a similar project when I was in school. Last summer some caterpillars also took to a small tree behind our house and the kids watched them every day until they metamorphosed. Way cool....

SaddleSore

I find it a little odd that you 'bought' them online! Caterpillars can be found in almost any back garden, and although you can't be sure necessarily what butterfly you would end up with, that adds to the fun!

As kids we simply set them up in large glass jars, with leaves, twigs and so on. We collected them from the garden, put them in the jar with holes punched in the lid and we watched them. Great fun.

Flicka

Well, I guess that does seem silly, now, doesn't it, LOL? I don't think I'd be able to even find a caterpillar, silly as that sounds, I wouldn't know where to look. I've seen the caterpillars that turn into gypsy moth caterpillars, but I'm not sure I'd want to nurture one of those.

haute_ecole

I did this last year (from the chrysalis stage or close to it, when we suddenly found them hanging from the siding of our home. We hatched 6 by the end of the season. They are so incredible beautiful. I was actually going to look into purchasing a small butterfly habitat this year in case we need it.

Roy Rogers

Wow, this is one thing I never did get the chance to do while I was a kid.

This sounds like a really neat project to me, and it's a shame I never had the chance to try it out before.

Maybe one of these days, I will have to look into this some more.

Butterflies are simply fascinating to me, and I have been to some parks devoted to them.