Where to find caterpillars Depending on the season, where you live, and how much time you have, finding your own caterpillars may be a rewarding task. The best way to find caterpillars is to look for plants that are known host plants for local butterflies and moths.
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Caring for Caterpillars To raise a butterfly you will have to start with an egg or a caterpillar. If you start with a fresh butterfly egg you can expect to wait about 3-7 days for it to hatch. The butterfly larva (caterpillar) will eat and grow for about 2-4 weeks. It will then turn into a chrysalis and the butterfly will emerge from the chrysalis in about 1-2 weeks.
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Changing from Caterpillar to Chrysalis At normal room temperature the caterpillars should take 5 to 10 days to grow large enough to make the fascinating change from caterpillar to chrysalis. When they are ready to change your caterpillars will climb to the top of the cage and attach themselves.
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Birth of your Butterflies The chrysalides will get darker as the time to emerge gets closer. Keep your eyes on them now as you may get to witness the birth of a butterfly! As a butterfly emerges, it will hold onto the cage in a vertical position while stretching its wings to full size.
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