How to Make Caterpillar Food for a Butterfly Habitat

Butterfly habitats are both rewarding and educational. The most difficult part of raising caterpillars into butterflies is determining the correct food source. Caterpillars are known to be very picky eaters in nature. They will only eat specific plants and can starve to death if the correct variety is not provided.

Things You'll Need

  • Vase with water
  • Freezer bags
  • Caterpillars
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the specific host plant required by your caterpillars. If you catch the caterpillars outside, it is necessary to take close notice of the plant they were feeding on when you found them. This is the host plant for your particular type of caterpillar. If you did not catch the caterpillars, you must establish the species of you have and determine the host plant. There are many field guides available documenting individual caterpillar types and the different host foods for each.

    • 2

      Obtain the necessary host plant. If you got your caterpillars off of a tree, you will need to pluck many small branches with leaves. Carefully inspect these clippings for bugs and diseases. Put a few of these branches into the butterfly habitat. Place a vase of water in a cool location to keep fresh. Place the remainder in a zippered freezer bag and put in the freezer. A potted plant in the habitat is the ideal form of feeding for the caterpillars. This is only feasible if the host plant is fairly small. This small plant can be easily transplanted into a pot and placed into the habitat.

    • 3

      Provide your caterpillar with a variety of cuttings from the plants surrounding the natural habitat they were removed from, because many caterpillars have more than one host plant that they are accustomed to eating. Replace the leaves and grasses daily. Caterpillars won't eat dried out food. Remove any food remnants from the habitat that were not eaten. Keep the habitat clean.

    • 4

      Do not attempt to give your caterpillars bowls of water. Caterpillars receive all the necessary moisture from the food source. Your caterpillars may fall into a bowl of water and drown. If the habitat is dry, you may lightly mist the top of the habitat to provide more humidity, but do not soak down their food. Also, be careful to avoid directly spraying water onto the caterpillars.

    • 5

      Give your caterpillars branches in addition to the leaves they like to eat. They will not use the branches for food, but will need them to suspend from when they are ready to build their chrysalis.