OK people... I feel silly asking, but this is the first time we have done this! We found a black swallowtail caterpillar in our garden on the fennel today! COOL! We looked up info on it, we cut the branch he was on plus more fennel branches and put it all in a quart sized canning jar with screen inside the lid. We also put about a tablespoon of water in the bottom (I don't know... do caterpillars need a drink?) According to the info he's nearing the size to form a cocoon. I learned he needs a stick to build the cocoon. How are we doing? What do we do next? Any help is appreciated! Edie
oooh wierd! There are several little pellets in the jar that I assume are his poop!? Ewwwww! LOL! Edie
No, he doesn't need to drink. See if your library has "The Family Butterfly Book". Yes, the pellets are poop. And yes, get a stick that goes pretty much to the top. He'll climb up it when he wants to make a cocoon.
picture, pictures!!! How cool!!!! Yes, you're doing okay. Make sure, though, not to disturb him while he's cacooning...we made the mistake of disturbing a moth when he was cocooning and he never came out of it. WAAAHHHH!!! Poor Mr. Fuzzyhead!!! Anyway, love to see pix of a Black Swallowtail....OH...and you might want to move him to something bigger than a jar...just for when he comes out of the cacoon, he'll need to have room to spread out - need a day or two before he'll be able to fly. We did a caterpillar tent with two tin pie plates and netting, it was inexpensive and easy. There are directions if you google it online.
Do you have a gallon size jar? If so, I'd move him to that. Not sure a quart size is large enough! I've done several Monarchs, some were given to me as caterpillars, some we hatched from an egg.
Thanks everyone! Another homeschooling friend said she has a butterfly house we can borrow after he cocoons. Should we move him before that?
