Things You'll Need
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass
- Book on butterflies
Instructions
Look at different pictures of butterfly cocoons and become familiar with them. For example, a Monarch butterfly's chrysalis is green, and a giant swallow tail has a brownish cocoon. However, the shapes of the cocoons are similar.
Examine trees and bushes in your yard for butterfly eggs. A magnifying glass will help. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed leaves. The eggs are small and circular. If you find some, monitor them and watch them hatch. At least you will have an idea of when to look for the cocoons.
Use binoculars and go outside during the day when the sky is clear and the sun is bright to search for butterfly cocoons. The chrysalis will blend in with the branches and leaves, so you have to look closely. If the chrysalis wasn't camouflaged, it would get eaten by predators.
Keep in mind the general shape of the cocoon. Sometimes you will find a row of them hanging from a branch or leaf.
If you have trouble finding them in your own yard, visit a park, butterfly sanctuary or a zoo that houses butterflies.