Caring for the ChrysalidesĢ4 hours after ALL of the caterpillars have formed chrysalides is the best time to move them into the habitat. This is the most vulnerable stage in the development of a butterfly. During the first day while their chrysalis is forming it is very important that they are not disturbed and you must be very careful not to move or jiggle the cup.
#BUTTERFLY FEEDER SKIN#
Once they are in the “J” shape, their body will change into a chrysalis and they will shed a very thin layer of outer skin that you may not even see. They will hang upside down from the disk and make a “J” shape. When they are ready to change your caterpillars will climb to the top of the cup and attach themselves, by strands of silk, to the special disk that is under the lid of the cup.
Changing from Caterpillar to ChrysalisĪt normal room temperature the caterpillars should take 5 to 10 days to grow large enough to make the fascinating change from caterpillar to chrysalis. Also, keep the lid on the cup at all times to prevent introducing bacteria into it. Direct sunlight may cause condensation in the cup, which is not healthy for the caterpillars. Important: Keep your caterpillar cup at room temperature (68° to 78☏) and out of direct sunlight. While the caterpillars are in the cup you may gently pick up the cup to look at them but do not shake it or be rough with them. While they are eating and growing you will see little balls on the bottom of the cup that are the caterpillars “frass” or waste. Now watch as they eat, crawl, spin silk and grow to many times their original size! Don’t worry if they do not move for the first day or so, this is normal.
In the wild they like mallow and hollyhock plants, but our special concentrated diet is great for them. Your caterpillars only need the food on the bottom of their cup to thrive and grow. Look carefully at your caterpillar cup and you will see there are tiny holes punched in the lid for air. Congratulations: You are about to watch part of the incredible life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly! Expect the change from caterpillar to butterfly to take approximately 3 weeks and for the resulting butterflies to live 2 to 4 weeks.
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