"Just when the caterpillar thought life was over, it became a butterfly"
- Have you ever heard that saying -
Monday, I went outside to water and say hi to my vegetable garden.
Much to my surprise,
8 baby caterpillars had made a home in my dill.
These are so tiny, I have never seen them looking so small.
These are so tiny, I have never seen them looking so small.
I decided to bring them indoors and raise them myself...
I have read that only a small percentage of caterpillars survive in the wild,
to become the beautiful butterfly they were meant to be.
to become the beautiful butterfly they were meant to be.
I have ordered a large netted home for them...since I have so many,
they will be too crowded in these small containers.
All they really need to survive, is plenty of food, dill, and some sticks to climb on.
They don't need water,
but you should spritz the inside of the cage with water, once per day!
Here they are today, they are all alive...and getting bigger.
I am pretty sure they are swallowtails, I am so excited!
I am pretty sure they are swallowtails, I am so excited!
36 comments:
Hello Debbie!
It's so exciting. I can not wait to see the butterfly
Debbie, I hope you take a picture and we'll see this butterfly.
Greetings from Poland.
Lucja
Great! They are really getting bigger! Good luck with your kindergarten))
I have done that with tomato worms too. They turn into lovely big moths. I will check my dill and I would love to see swallowtails. So cool Debbie.
What an amazing adventure!!!
Oh do keep us updated, on this brood!
Wonderful!
Gentle hugs,
Luna Crone
Love this, Debbie. Can't wait to see the butterflies! :)
xoxo
My Mother used to do this. Once she even hatched a Luna Moth. She was really into Lepidoptery.
Let's hope they all hatch AND are Swallowtails! What a photo gallery that will make. :-)
Better that than to just pick them off and mash them with your foot. HAH!
OH! This is incredible. I had no idea you could do this. It's like raising baby magic.
Wow. Great idea! Good luck with your brood, Debbie!
Hello Debbie!:) You are a seasoned caterpillar Mom by now,:) ( have just looked at your other posts) so I'm sure you will be successful. They are very attractive caterpillars, but the Swallowtails will be beautiful to photograph. Can't wait to see what happens!
So glad you are feeling better.:)
cool cool
If you wait, they will be beautiful �� butterflies Debbie.
Besos.
I've been worried about the decline of butterflies in our world... and here you are saving all you can. Great going, Debbie.
How cool that will be to raise your own butterflies! My son and I did this with tadpoles once. Watched them as they grew tails and legs to become frogs.....nice
This is great, can't wait to see more!
All the best Jan
Very cool! I can't wait to see the final result! ;-)
Oh how fun to watch the progress.I'm sure you will be getting lots of pictures so the rest of us can follow along.
Well, I'll be!!! Good for you as I'd never have thought of trying this!
I looked them up, sure looks like it
So pretty! How sweet to find little critters :)) Be blessed <3
That is such a lovely thing to do Debbie. I look forward to seeing photos of their transition.
How wonderful for you to have found so many caterpillars. I did a search for swallowtail caterpillars and read an interesting story about them. I copied the link in case you'd like to read it, too. They sure grow fast. The page I read says that only about 1 in 100 eggs make it to a butterfly. https://www.joyfulbutterfly.com/black-swallowtail-butterflies-indoors/
I too am excited for you!! My, I read all of your caterpillar posts and I must admit I have never thought of it but what a fantastic idea. Knowing my luck my caterpillars would develop into sawflies!!
Have a truly wonderful Thursday Debbie and enjoy your little wriggly ones :)
What an idea and project. All the best on this.
Hello, Debbie, kudos to you for saving some butterflies. I am looking forward to seeing their progress. Awesome project. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!
Reed would like that!
I was sorry to read about your unfortunate stay in the hospital. Never a good thing. I hope all is well and am thinking of you.
We hung a bird feeder near our kitchen window and have enjoyed watching the birds (ours aren't as colorful as yours). Sadly I have noted the neighborhood cats (not mine, of course) also enjoy watching the birds and am thus ambivalent about what to do.
xoxo Andrea @ This Knitted Life
How exciting to watch them grow, how fun, it will be neat to see the progress on them!
I am in awe!
well I've never done that, sure looks interesting and looking forward to seeing the pictures!! I also love the train ride post.....that just looks so relaxing to sit down and let the pretty scenery just go by......clickaty clack, clicakaty clack....
thanks peg, i appreciate the info!!
I really love that you found these little ones and rescued them. I like the photos that take us through the process of how you do it all. I did go back and read your past posts and now I recall what you did before. It's awesome!
Sending loving thoughts your way on this one today! Hugs~
Wonderful, and that opening quote is one of my favorites. Life is good!
Wonderful butterflies-to-be. Thank you for helping them complete their journey -- and for sharing it.
Your blog is very useful for me.I really like you post.Thanks for sharing.
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I'm sort of working my way backwards, having had the kids! This is really fun. I have heard it i better for them if you can raise them. Cheers!
"...to become the beautiful butterfly they were meant to be."
This could be a metaphor for life.
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