Catching Caterpillars

The Butterfly Buzz

Hey what could be better than writing about my two favorite things Bucks county and Butterflies. You should be seeing a lot of monarchs this year. Last year was a good ones for the big “M’s” and this one should be just as plentiful. You have to keep a sharp eye out for them right now because they all seem to have a definite purpose and are darting around quite quickly.

Here’s something to try with your family. The next time that you actually have time to sit down for a while watch the butterflies whether it is at lunch time or in your garden, is in its self is a reward. But watch the butterflies. If you see one just landing on the leaves of plants as opposed to stopping on the flowers you may have female looking for a place to lay her eggs. Okay so I do, It does, what’s the deal?

Ah! You have encountered an opportunity to learn wisely Grasshopper.
Actually you have to key to stop and smell one of the elusive roses of life.

As you observe the butterfly as it rest on the leaf watch if it curls its stomach
to the underside of the leaf. If it does go to the exact spot once the B-fly leaves. Here you will find her egg and the fun begins.

Now this is going to sound like the most bizarre thing you ever tried but try it. Take the leaf from the plants with the egg intact and place it into some thing protective until you get it home. Once you are at home place the leaf into a ‘deli’ container. At this point simple poke a few holes in the lid of the container for ventilation. If you really get into it place a piece of netting, bridal veil tooling, or even a coffee filter over the opening of the ‘Deli” container. Next, cut a larger hole in the lid and place it over the netting or filter to hold it in place.

Every day place a new leaf into the container and remove the older leaf.
BUT not the leaf with the egg on it. We just want to make sure that in the few days that the caterpillar will take to hatch that it will have a fresh leaf to eat. Most caterpillars are only caterpillars for two weeks.

At the end of it caterpillar stage it will them crawl to the center of the lid and become a chrysalis. Here it will rest for about two more weeks before your butterfly emerges. Never keep your egg, caterpillar or adult butterfly in direct sunlight.

Now that you are the proud parent of a butterfly you choices are two. You can take your butterfly outside an as the Papago Indians always said, If you whisper a wish to it and set it free it will take your wish to heaven where it would be granted. Or you can keep it for a few days in an upside down “Dollar Store” laundry hamper. To fed your new baby place a flatten out cotton ball into a jar lid and saturate it with Gatorade. The butterfly will land on the cotton ball, taste the Gatorade with it’s feet, YES IT’S FEET, uncurl it’s proboscis and begin to eat.

If you would like to photograph your butterfly before you release it. Catch it from inside the hamper with a cupped-hand and plop it into a paper bag. Then place the bag inside your refrigerator for about 5 minutes. Remove the butterfly from the bag and place it wherever you desire to take the picture.
Once your butterfly begins to warm up it will lay its wing open flat. This will give you an opportunity to take some picture. It will then it will begin to move its wings up and down and offer you the chance to catch the wings at a variety of angles for a very natural photo. In a very few minutes it will soon take wing and fly off.

Sit back and feel proud of yourself because your butterfly will stay close to home and make more butterflies in your neighborhood. Then next time you see a similar butterfly in your garden it just may be your grandchild.

Speaking of which there is nothing like sharing this experience with your children or grandchildren. If you do they will eventually share it with theirs.

So give it a whack, it is an experience you will remember forever.

Butterfly Rick Mikula