I found a caterpillar, how do I raise it? Yesterday I was about to wash the dishes when I came across a minature Catterpillar in the sink

May 2021 4 79 Report

I found a caterpillar, how do I raise it? Yesterday I was about to wash the dishes when I came across a minature Catterpillar in the sink—?

I assumed he was dead but put him to the side anyway, later on he dried off and eventually started walking around, it was heavy rain outside so I decided to put him in a container while it died down, not long after that I decided to do some research on the little critters and found that it is very unlikely to find a caterpillar in the middle of winter, I prepped a container,he wouldn’t eat any of the leaves and tried to escape.

I was picking leaves today on the way home convinced that by the time I come back he will just be dead, I came home and found that he had escaped, but immediately found him on the floor, I put some fresh leaves in and hoped that he would finally eat, he did begin eating, but only the stems of the leafs, I’ve also noticed that there are some goop balls in the tub (is that poop?) I read that it only takes a few weeks for a caterpillar to be ready for a cocoon but he’s only in a tiny container so I might upgrade him to a bigger one, I need some serious help with this, I have no idea about : when he is due for a cocoon, What I do after he, comes out his cocoon, What I should do to prepare for the cocoon, What I should do after he come out (should I keep it or let it go?) , What else I can do to increase his metabolism. And just a lot of advice about how I can do this without letting him die, I’m determined to let this little guy live.

At the moment he is just laying on a leaf doing nothing. Thank you!

Science & Mathematics / Zoology

daniel g

Verified answer

Caterpillars are not hard to keep,but some are finicky with what they eat, so helps knowing what you have.

Yes, the small goop balls are likely poop. Put a paper towel in the bottom of the cage for easy cleaning, that should be done every few days. They eat a lot and poop a lot.

As for pupating, that is up to how much they eat and the conditions like temperature and humidity.

Butterflies usually make their cocoon on twigs in trees so something like that in the cage you need for those.

Moths often pupate on the ground or dig just under the soil surface or under rocks or leaf litter.

Time varies, some moths pupate and spend all winter before emerging in the spring, as will some butterflies.

Your critter becomes adult out of season, about all you can do is providea bottle cap of sugar water nectar or natural honey so they can drink to sustain themselves. In nature, all they do is mate and lay eggs, but without a mate, you won't be able to start a family of them, and your pet just dies a month or so later.

Here is some keeping information for moths/butterflies:

http://www.raisingbutterflies.org/

https://www.keepinginsects.com/butterfly/care/

https://www.thoughtco.com/raising-caterpillar-in-t...

I have only raised a few moths, a couple, the huge atlas moths. My aunt keeps butterflies and has an avery made from a small gazebo netted of and has them all year. They breed in the avery and once had a couple hundred butterflies.

Things like potted live plants for the larvae food and a nectar feeder fo adults.

Hope this works for you.

If you want, just put some branches in there with leaves but as Gwyn suggested, you might want to give it some variety since it won't eat any leaf. This time of year, they are likely very close to forming a cocoon or chrysalis. Good luck to you and your caterpillar.