Raising Caterpillars & Butterflies at Home
There’s something special about the family collectively caring for a pet in the home. And if you’re not ready for a permanent pet, how about a caterpillar?
We were asked to adopt some caterpillars to help build back the Monarch Butterfly population and was told it was a simple few weeks commitment. And it really was! (Thanks Michele!)
It probably took us $10 to get started. All we purchased was a clear bug box, attached some netting to the cover, and found Crown Flower leaves from neighbors. We actually bartered and traded them Choco le`a chocolates for fresh leaves. One chocolate friend who knew I was doing this even brought in a whole branch for me to the store! ;) (thank you Alisa)
That’s it. That’s all these guys need.
Together we watched the caterpillar (larva) grow for about 2-3 weeks. Then watched them build and stay in their chrysalis (pupa) about 1-2 weeks. Then the best part of course, was watching them emerge as butterflies ready to take life in a new form and a new season of life.
It was neat to see how each butterfly took off differently. Some were ready and fluttered out of our kids’ hands immediately as if they were ready to see what was out there. Some sat on our hands for a bit as if to say, “thank you” before flying off. And others needed more time to dry and stretch their wings and cruised until they felt ready and received some encouragement.
But the best thing, was watching the kids wish them all a “Beautiful life” and shout after them “Goodbye!” each time they let one go, watching it until they couldn’t see it anymore.
There’s something so beautiful and a bit bittersweet about letting these butterflies go. It’s like you raised them, but knew their best life was out there for them to discover. I guess it reminds me as a mom how short this caterpillar stage with my kids really is before they take off.
Perhaps each time we let one butterfly go, it was preparing my heart to let my kids go one day too.
Give it a try. And if you want to start with everything nicely prepped in a box for you in a chrysalis stage already and the expected date of their release, you can start with a local company that got a lot of attention in the pandemic that I listed below called Paradise Monarchs.
“Spread your wings and prepare to fly, for you have become a butterfly.”
Oh and fun fact! When we first started, I put the caterpillars in an empty fish tank with no cover and 2 got out. A week later, a butterfly appeared in our house. And another week later, another! Those caterpillars made house somewhere in OUR house and built their chrysalis anyway! Pretty cool. :)
erin’s tip
Give this a shot. It’s a low commitment with a great return! All you need is a box and the Crown Flower leaves. The bug box makes dumping the doodoo out easy after pulling out the leaves, or you can get those fancy net boxes made for raising caterpillars too! Have fun with the family and your temporary pet with a pretty permanent lesson to share.
