How To Order Caterpillars For The Classroom?

The Carolina® butterfly kit is an educational opportunity for students and educators alike. It allows them to watch the day-to-day development and transformation of their own caterpillar, providing an unforgettable experience for both students and educators. The kit is available for purchase online or by post, with a caterpillar voucher that includes the website and postal address. The kits are designed to be re-useable, so when ready for another try, they can be ordered as classroom refills.

The best-selling Cup of Caterpillars ™ allows kids to watch five tiny caterpillars embark on their journey from caterpillar to butterfly. This rewarding educational kit is designed specifically for teachers and classrooms, enabling each student to raise their own Painted Lady Butterfly and witness the wonder of the butterfly. The kit comes with everything needed to raise painted lady butterflies from larvae to adults, including an improved freestanding mesh Butterfly.

The kit is sensitive to outdoor temperatures, so it is recommended to postpone your order if daytime temperatures are below 50 degrees or above 90 degrees. You can order the kit with live caterpillars now or receive a free certificate to redeem at a later date. The Carolina® butterfly kit is perfect for classrooms and homes, offering everything you need to watch the life cycle of a butterfly close up. Caterpillars are available from March to September each year, and the included caterpillar voucher can be redeemed.

How To Make A Caterpillar Enclosure?

Creating an enclosed home for caterpillars to metamorphose into butterflies is both easy and cost-effective. Many options exist for suitable containers, such as old fish tanks, small aquariums with screened lids, and clear plastic or glass containers with holes for ventilation—ensuring that edges are smooth on the outside. Pet store critter containers also work well. Understanding the specific needs of the caterpillar species is essential, as not all caterpillars have the same dietary preferences or environmental requirements.

Over the years, using mesh cages has proven effective for raising caterpillar eggs; however, a more stable wooden structure provides better safety for housing more caterpillars. For beginners wishing to build a caterpillar habitat, a clean tupperware container measuring at least 5 inches square and 3-4 inches high is an ideal choice. Succinctly, the process includes gathering fresh leaves from the caterpillar's host plant and placing them in the container along with sticks for movement and grass at the bottom. Daily replacement of leaves is crucial, as caterpillars only eat fresh foliage.

Additionally, enclosures can be enhanced with cheesecloth or mesh for adequate air circulation. Creating a comfortable environment with easy visibility for monitoring progress is important; designs that allow for easy cleaning and access are preferred. A butterfly conservatory, as well as simple enclosures that can be hung in gardens, will protect caterpillars from predators while affording them a more natural setting for development.

How Do You Spot Caterpillars At Night?

When searching for caterpillars at night, I rely on both a regular flashlight and a UV flashlight. The regular flashlight is reserved for identifying caterpillars once I've found them with the UV light, which causes them to glow. Caterpillars tend to hide, nap, or feed at night, often clinging to plant stems or concealing themselves beneath leaves to avoid predators like birds. They usually feed during brief intervals after settling down during the day.

Observing caterpillars effectively requires knowledge of their host plants. Many caterpillars have evolved to mimic the shapes and colors of twigs and leaves, making them difficult to spot. After hatching, which occurs within two to three days, caterpillars appear small and unrecognizable compared to butterflies, feeding voraciously on vegetation as they grow. Most caterpillars are nocturnal, favoring nighttime activity, though some also exhibit diurnal behavior.

For research purposes, entomologists often use black lights or UV lights to attract and study nocturnal insects, as many can see UV light. When searching for caterpillars, it's important to move methodically through gardens and vegetation, beginning at the base and working upward. Under UV light, caterpillars display bright white or green hues, while leaves can glow purple. Using a UV flashlight is especially effective in scanning for larvae on host plants, making it easier to identify species such as the cutworm, which can quickly damage young plants by chewing through their stems.

What Is A Caterpillar To Butterfly Kit For Classroom?

The invoice is included in the package and also sent to the billing address on the PO. The Caterpillar to Butterfly Kit for Classroom is an engaging project that educates children about metamorphosis and the life cycle of butterflies, enhancing their understanding of life's evolution. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar experiences an incredible transformation known as metamorphosis into a butterfly. The kit is designed for teachers, even those without prior experience with live insects, allowing students to observe and document their caterpillars' development.

This comprehensive kit includes 32 Painted Lady butterfly caterpillars, food, and small cups for each caterpillar. The Nature Bound Butterfly Growing Kit provides both a voucher for caterpillars and a green pop-up enclosure, complete with a STEM learning guide, allowing every student to raise their own butterfly and witness the transformation firsthand. Students can utilize magnifying glasses to closely observe various aspects of the caterpillars, filling out Caterpillar Observation Journals accordingly.

Multiple butterfly sets are available, all suitable for classroom use, differing primarily in the number of caterpillars and habitat size. The kits are easy to set up, clean, and store, allowing for hands-on engagement with live butterflies. The Classroom Kit includes a variety of educational opportunities in science, math, reading, and environmental studies.

Each kit provides a large, reusable pop-up habitat and sufficient supplies to raise 33 live caterpillars. The entire lifecycle—from caterpillar to butterfly—is expected to take approximately three weeks, with the butterflies living an additional two to four weeks, making it a rewarding educational experience for students.

What Month Do Caterpillars Come Out?

In March and April, eggs are laid on milkweed plants, hatching in about four days into baby caterpillars (larvae) that feed primarily to grow. Caterpillars are typically active in May and June in the UK, where they undergo rapid growth before pupating. Species like the Painted Lady butterfly can be fully grown within a few weeks post-hatching. They spend the winter in cocoons, emerging as butterflies in late May or June to lay eggs, restarting the life cycle.

Generally, June is also an excellent month for spotting caterpillars. Additionally, caterpillars can be seen from spring through fall, sometimes abundantly during October to December. They may lie dormant, burying themselves underground or in leaf litter until warm spring weather prompts activity. Occasionally, caterpillars may even be seen above ground in February as they emerge from hibernation. Notably, the speckled green fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) has been a surprising find among spring caterpillars.

While they are present throughout spring and summer, many observers note that they are particularly abundant in fall. Overall, butterflies and moths progress through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult, with caterpillars representing the larval stage.

How To Care For Classroom Caterpillars?

To care for a caterpillar and assist its transformation into a butterfly, several essential guidelines must be followed. First, ensure the caterpillar is fed the same plant it was found on, as specific species, like Monarchs, only eat milkweed. Water is unnecessary for caterpillars, but it’s important to keep their environment clean, ventilated, and safe from direct sunlight to prevent overheating.

The ideal time for caterpillar hunting is during spring and summer when most butterflies and moths are laying eggs. This process of raising caterpillars can be a fun and educational experience, promoting learning about biology, ecology, and conservation, especially in classroom settings.

Caterpillars can be housed in large jars or plastic containers with a vertical branch for chrysalis formation. Fresh host plant leaves need to be provided regularly, and it’s crucial to avoid discarding any caterpillars while replacing their food. For observation, students should note the characteristics of caterpillars including size, color, and movement, and document their findings in Caterpillar Observation Journals.

Caterpillar cups should be kept at room temperature (68° to 78°F), with ventilation ensured by air holes or mesh tops. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent condensation that could harm the caterpillars, and always keep the lids on to prevent bacteria introduction. The initial development stage usually lasts 7 to 12 days at standard room temperature. Maintaining the proper environment and care will help successfully raise caterpillars into beautiful butterflies.

Can I Buy Replacement Caterpillars For Butterfly Sets?

You can purchase replacement caterpillars for various butterfly raising kits, making it easy to continue observing and nurturing butterflies in settings like large pavilions, classrooms, homes, or special events. These refill vouchers typically include 10 to 33 live caterpillars, depending on the kit size, along with necessary supplies such as caterpillar cups, food, and detailed instructions. For example, Insect Lore’s butterfly raising kits come with the Original Butterfly Garden and a Caterpillar Refill Kit containing 10-14 caterpillars, while Nature Gift Store offers a Butterfly Refill with 5 Painted Lady caterpillars, ensuring at least three successfully transform into butterflies.

The kits are designed to be reusable, allowing multiple generations of butterflies by ordering additional caterpillar refills containing 3 to 5 caterpillars and their food. Caterpillars are generally available for purchase from late February to mid-September, depending on weather conditions. Many suppliers, including Desertcart, prioritize high-quality live caterpillars and authentic brands, ensuring a reliable experience for users.

Essential components of these kits often include a reusable mesh habitat, Chrysalis Holding Logs, and flowers to support the caterpillars’ lifecycle. Some products offer optional discount coupons for ongoing purchases of larvae and food delivered directly to your door. Whether you need a single refill voucher or multiple caterpillars for extensive setups, these kits provide all necessary materials, except for the butterfly habitat in some cases, to facilitate the complete metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. Ideal for educational purposes and personal enjoyment, these butterfly kits enable users to raise and release their own butterflies, fostering a deeper understanding of nature’s beauty and processes.

How Do I Order A Caterpillar?

You can conveniently place orders for caterpillars either online or via post. Your voucher will provide the necessary website and postal address for ordering. Keep your caterpillar voucher code handy for any delivery queries. Orders can be tailored to specific weeks. The Caterpillar product line allows ordering for specific species of caterpillars or raising butterflies, even if challenges arise in sourcing them locally.

For a complete refill, you will receive 5 live caterpillars along with food, a mister, a butterfly feeder, sugar, an eye dropper, easy instructions, and a life cycle coloring page--note that the net cage is not included.

The Cat® dealer network helps maintain equipment, ensuring continued support globally. If you’re interested in touring Caterpillar production facilities, contact your Cat® dealer for arrangements. Should you require caterpillars for educational purposes, many quality providers offer kits and habitats for live insects suitable for classrooms and kids. Before placing an order, consider your school term dates to ensure a timely project. After an order is placed, it enters the fulfillment process and cannot be changed or canceled.

Insect Lore offers butterfly kits for hands-on experience in metamorphosis. For additional information, utilize email, phone, or online chat support. Ordering is recommended ahead of specific dates, such as Easter—ensure orders are in by March 18, 2024, for shipping on March 25. Multiple species should have separate orders to accommodate their different growth timelines, with caterpillars taking about 3-4 weeks to transform into butterflies.

Do Live Caterpillars Grow Into Butterflies?

Order your kit with live caterpillars now or opt for a FREE certificate to redeem your caterpillars later. We assure that 22 out of 32 caterpillars will become happy adult butterflies, although typically all develop successfully. Once it's over 50°F, you can release your butterflies outside. These stunning insects are essential for pollination, aiding plant growth. While caterpillars lead fulfilling lives, they won't produce offspring until they metamorphose into butterflies or moths.

Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) experience five instars before entering the chrysalis stage, where they undergo a significant transformation. Not all caterpillars evolve into butterflies, so it's crucial to understand the different metamorphic processes and the various forms caterpillars can take. The life cycle of a caterpillar involves four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. During the larval phase, the caterpillar voraciously eats and grows rapidly, needing about three to four weeks to transition into a butterfly, with growth accelerated in warmer climates.

Each caterpillar is housed in a separate container, needing care until its metamorphosis. Food consumed will later sustain the adult butterfly. To raise Monarch butterflies effectively, order your kits in Canada, ensuring Easter shipments occur by March 25, 2024, with orders due by March 18.

What Do You Feed Classroom Butterflies?

To care for caterpillars and raise butterflies, it's crucial to understand which specific plants each species consumes. You can feed butterflies juicy fruits like oranges or strawberries, or create a sugar water solution by mixing one teaspoon of sugar with 100 mls of water. Raising butterflies in the classroom is an excellent educational project that allows children to observe their life cycles firsthand. Ideal for classrooms, a Butterfly Kit can accommodate up to 32 students, allowing each to care for their own Painted Lady Butterfly.

For feeding, use a sugar water mixture in shallow cups or on cotton balls. Alternatives include canned fruit nectar or overripe fruit like bananas and berries. A homemade nectar can be made from 1/2 cup sugar heated with 1 cup water. Some butterflies prefer specific flowers, so it's beneficial to provide flower nectar in addition to fruit options. Additionally, creating a butterfly feeder and providing nutritious food can attract more butterflies to your garden.

With materials designed for educational purposes, teachers are encouraged to give students hands-on experience in butterfly rearing, where they can witness the fascinating process as butterflies extend their proboscis to feed. This engaging project fosters learning and appreciation for nature.