Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
When should I order my caterpillars for this unit?
Answer:
Order the caterpillars at least twenty days before you intend to begin Lesson 2. Carolina Biological Supply ships express on Mondays and Tuesdays, so, if possible, plan Lesson Two for a Thursday to allow for delivery.
Question:
What if I cannot begin Lesson 2 immediately after caterpillars arrive?
Answer:
The caterpillars can be stored for a few days in the crisper pan of a refrigerator. If they are not stored in a refrigerator they will continue to develop (sometimes rapidly if it is warm) and students will miss viewing important stages. Storage in a cool spot like a refrigerator will slow growth. If the temperature is below 40 degrees or they are kept cool too long, they may not survive.
Question:
How do I recapture butterflies that escape from the flight cages?
Answer:
The butterflies tend to be drawn to lights and will flutter near windows or ceiling lights. It is easiest to wait until they land on or near a light source with wings folded upright. Gently pinch the two wings together; avoiding grabbing one wing as the butterfly will injure itself.
Question:
What should I do if the chrysalis becomes dislodged from the lid?
Answer:
Sometimes you can gently tape it to the side of the flight cage by some attached strands of silk. It is possible to loop a strand of thread gently around the chrysalis and tape that thread to the flight cage. It is likely, however, that the butterfly will emerge malformed in some way.
Question:
What are the little round pellets in the bottom of the caterpillar cup?
Answer:
Those pellets are actually waste from the caterpillar. It is called frass.
Question:
What is that red liquid which drips from the chrysalis and butterfly as it emerges from the chrysalis?
Answer:
The red liquid is called meconium. It is a waste liquid that builds up in the butterfly's body as it is developing in the chrysalis.
Question:
How much space should I plan on using in my classroom to accommodate the caterpillars and butterflies?
Answer:
You will need enough table or counter space for a terrarium-sized flight cage and about three egg carton-sized trays. Egg cartons make a stable, protected storage for the caterpillar cups. If hanging flight cages are used, they can be suspended from the ceiling at about six feet from the ground. The hanging flight cages are the width of a 12” plastic picnic plate and are about two feet high.
Question:
What is the best way to place the chrysalises in the flight cages?
Answer:
A really good way to put the chrysalises into the flight cage is to prop each lid in an egg carton cup so that the chrysalis hangs vertically. The tissue or lid itself (if tissue is not used or eaten by caterpillars) can also be taped to the flight cage side.
Question:
Should I provide water for either the caterpillars or butterflies?
Answer:
No. The caterpillar gets the water it needs from the plant material it eats. You will pour sugar water onto sponges until they are moist and this will be all the water the butterflies need. Too much water actually endangers the insects as they can easily drown.