How to Keep a Butterfly Alive Indoors

If the butterfly that you reared from a caterpillar is a pest species or not native to your area, you shouldn't release it into the wild. You'll need to make a home for it indoors. Occasionally, butterfly wings become damaged when the butterflies emerge from the pupae, and again you'll want to care for the injured butterfly indoors. You might also come across a butterfly with damaged wings in your yard, especially if you have cats. Butterflies that can't fly don't live long in the wild. To keep a butterfly alive indoors, provide a suitable house and something for it to eat.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic tub
  • Sheet of paper
  • Box
  • Twig
  • Muslin
  • Elastic band
  • Sugar
  • Pan
  • Spoon
  • Cotton balls
  • Dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put the plastic tub over the butterfly and slide a piece of paper underneath to move it.

    • 2

      Transfer the butterfly to a cardboard or plastic box. Add a twig for the butterfly to perch on. Position a piece of muslin over the top of the box and secure with a large elastic band.

    • 3

      Measure one part plain white sugar and four to nine parts water into a pan. Heat gently on the stove. Stir continuously until all the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture, which is artificial nectar, to cool.

    • 4

      Soak a cotton ball in the sugar solution. Squeeze slightly so the ball doesn't drip.

    • 5

      Place the cotton ball in a little dish and set in the butterfly box.