The Caterpillar
March 2014
3/14
Today a Cabbage Butterfly Caterpillar was brought to me. I have decided to try to raise him/her to adulthood. My first try with anything like this. I know how destructive the are but whatever.
He/she came in about 8 AM this morning and I quickly decided to have a go at it. Once I corralled him/her up which was a bit difficult. I immediately got him/her into an old jam jar I had for something else put a few sticks in and some Dandelion leaves and misted the inside for moisture. It took him/her a bit to adjust but by early afternoon he/she was happily eating away and has been all afternoon.
I also decided to make a 'top' for the jar out of plastic canvas so air can get it and he/she can't quite escape to reek havoc on my other plants in here.
Truthfully I have to get my 200-x magnifying glasses out to see him/her properly but he/she seems fairly large and I have been researching all day online to find out about them other than the mostly bad experiences I have had with them on my lettuce.
It seems like it will be a fun thing, I hope. I am guessing by the size he/she should Cocoon soon. I have also noted something that seems to be in great debate among "scholars" LOL I have observed many 'rest' periods. At first I thought something was going horribly wrong but then he/she just picked right back up as it nothing happened. Food coma.
Today a Cabbage Butterfly Caterpillar was brought to me. I have decided to try to raise him/her to adulthood. My first try with anything like this. I know how destructive the are but whatever.
He/she came in about 8 AM this morning and I quickly decided to have a go at it. Once I corralled him/her up which was a bit difficult. I immediately got him/her into an old jam jar I had for something else put a few sticks in and some Dandelion leaves and misted the inside for moisture. It took him/her a bit to adjust but by early afternoon he/she was happily eating away and has been all afternoon.
I also decided to make a 'top' for the jar out of plastic canvas so air can get it and he/she can't quite escape to reek havoc on my other plants in here.
Truthfully I have to get my 200-x magnifying glasses out to see him/her properly but he/she seems fairly large and I have been researching all day online to find out about them other than the mostly bad experiences I have had with them on my lettuce.
It seems like it will be a fun thing, I hope. I am guessing by the size he/she should Cocoon soon. I have also noted something that seems to be in great debate among "scholars" LOL I have observed many 'rest' periods. At first I thought something was going horribly wrong but then he/she just picked right back up as it nothing happened. Food coma.
3/15
Survived the night, ate most of the 3 leaves. Not interested in the new ones at first.
Ate all day. Much slower than yesterday.
By night had crawled up to plastic top and was hanging onto the plastic? Oh dear????
Survived the night, ate most of the 3 leaves. Not interested in the new ones at first.
Ate all day. Much slower than yesterday.
By night had crawled up to plastic top and was hanging onto the plastic? Oh dear????
3/16
AM. Had made a "web" last night and was in it. I cleaned mess and leaves out then it started eating the new leaf I put in, I also put some water on plastic top last night - I thought it was thirsty.
Early PM. Was making another nest
PM. Fed a new leaf. Has not touched it. Watered the jar. Is making "web" again, looking very pale. Kinda worried. Web is on side of jar near top.
AM. Had made a "web" last night and was in it. I cleaned mess and leaves out then it started eating the new leaf I put in, I also put some water on plastic top last night - I thought it was thirsty.
Early PM. Was making another nest
PM. Fed a new leaf. Has not touched it. Watered the jar. Is making "web" again, looking very pale. Kinda worried. Web is on side of jar near top.
3/17
AM. Still in web. Didn't eat anything
Late PM. Still at nothing. Cocoon has started :) look like a green wrap. There is some skin a the bottom. Still in web. Hasn't moved at all. Seems to be shriveling up.
AM. Still in web. Didn't eat anything
Late PM. Still at nothing. Cocoon has started :) look like a green wrap. There is some skin a the bottom. Still in web. Hasn't moved at all. Seems to be shriveling up.
3/18
AM. He/she is turning brown.
PM. Turned a bit more brown but looks no different otherwise.
AM. He/she is turning brown.
PM. Turned a bit more brown but looks no different otherwise.
3/19
AM. Looks same.
Early PM. Is definitely turning over. Still looks same. Still alive :)
AM. Looks same.
Early PM. Is definitely turning over. Still looks same. Still alive :)
3/20
AM. Still turning but slower. Still has brown spot.
PM. Still turning. Can see a shape when up against evening light, I want to touch it so bad but I won't. :)
AM. Still turning but slower. Still has brown spot.
PM. Still turning. Can see a shape when up against evening light, I want to touch it so bad but I won't. :)
3/21
AM. Still turning. Now I think its a Skipper Butterfly
PM. Still turning
AM. Still turning. Now I think its a Skipper Butterfly
PM. Still turning
3/22
AM. Still turning. Saws it turn, a quick flip :)
PM. Still flipping. Looks to be a bit bent and crooked. ????
AM. Still turning. Saws it turn, a quick flip :)
PM. Still flipping. Looks to be a bit bent and crooked. ????
3/23
AM. Still flipping
PM. Still flipping
AM. Still flipping
PM. Still flipping
3/24
AM. Still flipping. Going clear on both ends
PM. Still turning
AM. Still flipping. Going clear on both ends
PM. Still turning
3/25
AM. Has 2 big eyes, they look like. Brown on one end
PM. Not moving anymore, but falls around when I move jar :(
I think something went wrong :(
AM. Has 2 big eyes, they look like. Brown on one end
PM. Not moving anymore, but falls around when I move jar :(
I think something went wrong :(
3/26
AM. Hasn't moved at all.
PM. Looks more white colored. Eyes are bigger. Seems to still be developing a different case.
AM. Hasn't moved at all.
PM. Looks more white colored. Eyes are bigger. Seems to still be developing a different case.
3/27
AM. It flipped :)
PM. Hasn't moved since this morning. Dark spots turning very dark
AM. It flipped :)
PM. Hasn't moved since this morning. Dark spots turning very dark
3/28
AM. Still flipping.
PM. Hasn't moved today, looks like its turning pinkish colored.
AM. Still flipping.
PM. Hasn't moved today, looks like its turning pinkish colored.
3/29
AM. Flipped
PM. Nothing
AM. Flipped
PM. Nothing
3/30
AM. Flipped. Turning black on top and still dark pinkish.
PM. Maybe turned a bit today. Really looks bad.
Late PM. Flipped :) Looks even worse on the other side.
AM. Flipped. Turning black on top and still dark pinkish.
PM. Maybe turned a bit today. Really looks bad.
Late PM. Flipped :) Looks even worse on the other side.
3/31
AM. Flipped. Almost all black now.
Early PM. Turned a bit - REALLY looks bad
Late PM. Saw it wiggling, looks even worse.
AM. Flipped. Almost all black now.
Early PM. Turned a bit - REALLY looks bad
Late PM. Saw it wiggling, looks even worse.
April 2014
4/1
AM. I think it turned.
Late AM. Flipped
6:33 PM, checked it and it came out. Turns out to be a moth, I can't quite identify.
AM. I think it turned.
Late AM. Flipped
6:33 PM, checked it and it came out. Turns out to be a moth, I can't quite identify.
4/2
Found him/her this morning on top of the jar on the plastic top. Waited till lit got a bit warmer outside and put him/her out. Sad that its over but still happy that I successfully managed to do it. Tried to snap some pics but neither one of them came out. Now where is my next one??????? :)
Found him/her this morning on top of the jar on the plastic top. Waited till lit got a bit warmer outside and put him/her out. Sad that its over but still happy that I successfully managed to do it. Tried to snap some pics but neither one of them came out. Now where is my next one??????? :)
4/3
AM. Survived the night. Not moving much but still moving.
10:00 AM. Put him/her out
2:00 PM. Decided it was too cold and brought him/her back in, tried to feed and water but wouldn't take either.
Dark. Put him/her out and a couple of minutes later, flew off.
I WANT ANOTHER ONE
AM. Survived the night. Not moving much but still moving.
10:00 AM. Put him/her out
2:00 PM. Decided it was too cold and brought him/her back in, tried to feed and water but wouldn't take either.
Dark. Put him/her out and a couple of minutes later, flew off.
I WANT ANOTHER ONE