I thought I’d do a short update on my little family of caterpillars. I’m a little surprised, and yet at the same time not too surprised that I only have about twenty-something caterpillars from what must have been hundreds of eggs.
I know nature sometimes overdoes things like this and there are bound to be some losses, but I feel sad that I couldn’t raise a few more than that.  A lot of the eggs simply didn’t hatch, and I must assume that I damaged more than I thought in getting them off the mirror.  Those that did hatch seemed to do OK, though I did find two dead caterpillars in the jar. I don’t know the cause of death, unless it was a major argument over the last remaining fragment of dandelion leaf on a particular stalk.
Unlikely …
It’s quite possible that I threw some out when changing their leaves for fresh ones, even though I took great care in sorting limp leaves from live caterpillars. Never mind. It’s OK, because I just tossed the debris into the rough grass in our garden, where there are plenty of dandelions and they would have been quite happy.
Those that remain continue to grow and do well. They’re so fat now that each morning when I peek inside the jar, I expect some of them to have turned into pupae - but so far, none have.
You may have noticed that the caterpillars in the picture above vary quite a lot in colour. I thought this was rather strange, since they are all from the same batch of eggs, but it seems that they change colour as they mature, because although they ranged from very pale green, through slate blue, to almost black when I took that picture a week or so ago, they’re now pretty much all black - still with a cream ‘go-faster’ stripe, but black along the top, pale green underneath.
See?
What I want to know now, is will they stay as pupae over winter? If so, I assume they need to go into the coolest place in the house, or into the garage, perhaps. If not, will the moths hibernate? Should I let them fly out even if it’s frosty outside when they appear?
I need to do some research! Â Unless anyone out there knows the answers?
I have no clue. I am wondering if they’re carnivorous, though, which might explain why there are so few. Maybe they compete for resources, killing off any competitors. Just a thought.
I just think this experiment is very cool
Peace - D
RiverPoets last blog post..Oh, the Water…
I can’t help, I’m afraid, but I’m impressed. I think you did well to have so many thriving. I will enjoy watching their progress :O)
Babs - beetles last blog post..Fings ain’t what they used to be!
Hi Jay - I suspect if you put them in a cool place as soon as they all pupate, they MIGHT overwinter as pupae… Check on them the first several weeks though.
If they DO emerge, you’ll have to put them outside, even if it’s frosty… then they have a chance of making it.
They’re very pretty caterpillars! Nice pix.
Jeannine
River Poet - LOL! I’m pretty sure they’re not carnivorous, but who knows what happens when you keep something in captivity!
Babs - Thank you! I shall get some pics of the pupae if I can! Even the non-buggy people might like them - they have no legs!!
Jeannine - Ah, our resident entomologist! One of them anyway - I think Don’t Bug Me is a bona fide entomologist too!
Thanks, Jeannine - I shall take your advice. They’re looking kind of slow and sleepy right now, and not eating so much. I’ll pop them in the garage once they’ve changed, then check them daily as you suggest.
Somehow I missed this caterpillar experiment. Your photos are fascinating. I’m glad you have some “bug” experts weighing in because I haven’t a clue what they need.
I’ll look forward to future installments.
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..Sunday Request
Cool! I missed your last post about these guys; I wondered whatever happened to those eggs…
You must not have a teenage daughter in the house. Mine would never let me keep them indoors; even though SHE owns a gecko, she freaks out everytime she has to feed it crickets. (Doh!)
I hope your experiment goes full circle!
Maureens last blog post..We Eat Ham, And Jam And Spam A Lot
Here’s a pretty chrysalis that our camp neighbors were taking care of. I will post the Luna Moth caterpillar too eventually. Wow what a caterpillar that was! It was huge.
http://www.othersideofnewyork.com/?p=270
you are a prolific caterpillerer !!
sandy ks last blog post..Monday - let the race begin !!
Ruth - Thank you! I’m glad we have bug experts too - I have a little knowledge, but it only takes me so far. I’m learning though!
Maureen - No teenage daughter - I only had boys, and of course they would have been thrilled! Actually, my younger son’s girlfriend rather likes them too. She passed the second test!
The first was ‘what do you think of Johnny Depp?’ ROFL!
OSoNY - Those are like little alien escape pods! LOL! Pretty - as is the adult butterfly! Thanks for coming over and commenting!
Sandy - I hope I’m a prolific moth-erer too!
Hah!!!!
She’s a keeper, then…
Maureens last blog post..We Eat Ham, And Jam And Spam A Lot
I used to do exactly what you are doing, in my younger days. I used to put the caterpillars in a little aquarium with lots of twigs as well as food. When the time was right, they used to attach themselves to a twig and shed their skin, turning into a chrysalis. I would leave them undisturbed until early spring I think. I would then wait, and watch them break out as beautiful comma butterflies. I used to soak some cotton wool in sugared water and put it in the aquarium for them. They never failed to find it and feed on it whilst pumping up their wings. Once fully open, I would let them go:0)
Sandies last blog post..Moving on!
I was playing around trying to identify your catarpillars. I don’t think they’re Cabbage Moths. Apparently they’ll after 2-3 weeks feeding and hatch in another 2-3 weeks! They look like they might be armyworms which hatch into small brown moths. But what do I know? I’m no lepidopterist!
Bainos last blog post..Now that’s Verdent!
Maureen - She is! I would tell him that, except it might not seem like a terribly good reason to him… he already thinks I’m nuts. LOL!
Sandie - The twigs are a good idea! I’ll find some tomorrow - there are always birch twigs on the lawn at the end of the garden, they drop them all the time. Thanks!
And I’ll remember the sugared water too, for them they hatch.
Baino - They do look rather similar to the armyworm caterpillar. An excellent suggestion! With just one small drawback - we don’t have armyworms over here!
I somehow loved the pictures. Extremely Beautiful. I somehow didn’t get scared, I was rather fascinated with your photography.
Scratch Bagss last blog post..Tuffy’s Story
okay, i’m freaked out. you know i’m afraid of butterflies and caterpillers…well i can’t look at them…i know you said you’re not brave because you’re not scared, but you’re brave in my book.
Scratch - Thank you - I’m glad I managed to present them in a way you could find attractive, despite your fears!
Valerie - You shouldn’t come and look if it makes you freak, you know. I always give you a clue in the title on bug posts!!
I’m glad you do keep coming back though.
oh more bugs. Not that I hate them, i just am not a huge fan of them crawling around. The girls in the room next to mine keep getting moths… i won’t tell you what they do to them. It makes me sad, really…
Sarahs last blog post..Brett Farve made me want to cry
I spent over an hour last night trying to identify your lil’ critters. To no avail. They are pretty ‘tho’.
Sarah - Yes, more bugs, I’m afraid. I should warn you that they will crop up from time to time! I like them, you see. I can’t help it!
Katherine - Don’t forget I’m in the UK when trying to identify them! I still think they’re cabbage moths, but I guess we’ll see when they emerge. The caterpillars have now all dug themselves into the earth at the bottom of the jar to pupate! It’s quite exciting!