Butterfly Gardens

Care Instructions for your Live Caterpillar

Your Painted Lady caterpillar will be ready to make its chrysalis in a few days.  Here's what will happen:

• The caterpillar will climb to the top of the cup and hang from the lid. It will shed its skin one more time.
  
• Over 1-2 days, the chrysalis will slowly form a hard case around its body.  Do not shake or disturb it as it may damage the caterpillar at this stage.
  
• The chrysalis will begin to darken and the adult butterfly will emerge in 7-10 days. It will hang from the chrysalis. There may be some reddish or yellow liquid called meconium.  Its just waste liquid from the metamorphosis process.
  
• The new butterfly will have crumpled wings. It will slowly expand them out as it pumps blood into them. The proboscis will be in two halves that will join together. Then your butterfly is ready to fly.
  
• Soak a tissue in sugar water (3 teaspoons sugar in 1 cup water) and place it in the bottom of the container your butterfly is in for the butterfly to feed from.  You can also feed it a slice of orange, apple or watermelon.
  
• let the butterfly climb up onto your hand and set it free to look for flowers with nectar.
  

Here's What You Can Do to Prepare:

• Find a mason jar, bottle or small box to contain your butterfly once it emerges.
  
• After the chrysalis is a few days old, open the cup. Remove any stringy strands so they won't tangle up the butterfly when it emerges.
  
• Tape the cup lid across the open top of your jar or box.  You can gently cover the opening with some cloth or screen to prevent the butterfly from escaping.
  
• If your chrysalis falls to the ground, that's OK.  The butterfly can still emerge, it just won't have gravity to help it out.
  
• When you release it outdoors, it will be free to begin the amazing life cycle all over again.  You can encourage butterflies to stay in your garden by planting host plants for the caterpillars and nectar plants for the adults.