My little one has been talking about caterpillars and butterflies for months! We decided to order the butterfly garden kit from Insect Lore.
The butterfly garden kit comes with five live baby caterpillars or you can choose to receive a voucher to receive the caterpillars at a later date (perfect for gifting). The kit also comes with everything you need for them to grow; all the food, a pop-up reusable mesh habitat, a chrysalis holding log, flower shaped butterfly feeder, sugar packets, and a feeding dropper. It also comes with a STEM Butterfly Journal with fun science, math and writing activities. My little one wasn’t quite ready for the activities in the journal but she enjoyed flipping through it.
My daughter was SO EXCITED when the caterpillars arrived. She counted them and talked to them.
For the first several days, you simply watch the caterpillars move and grow. After about 6 days our caterpillars began to form their chrysalises. We were amazed how fast it happened. We never did see them forming. Within two days they were all hanging in their chrysalises from the top of the container.
After 3 days, you gently remove the lid and use a cotton swab to remove the webbing from around the chrysalises. This is to prevent the wings from getting caught when the butterflies emerge from the chrysalis. Carefully place the lid sideways into the Chrysalis Holding Log, and then place it in the butterfly habitat.
Just 6 days later, the butterflies began to emerge one by one. We kept them in a location that we constantly walk by throughout the day. It made it easy to keep an eye on them. I was shocked how quick they come out. I walked by one moment and the habitat looked the same and when I walked by again a few minutes later there was a butterfly! Throughout the day all five butterflies emerged. We missed seeing the majority, but we were able to watch one emerge from the chrysalis. My daughter was so excited.
At first the wings are soft and crumpled but then they will slowly stretch and strengthen their wings. It was important not to touch the newly emerged butterflies. We waited 2-3 hours and then gave them a few drops of sugar water in the feeder. The next day we put a few small pieces of watermelon on a plate inside their habitat. It was neat to watch them eat.
I learned that butterflies do not have mouths. Instead, they have a proboscis extending from their head, a straw-like tube that coils up when not in use. They have a liquid diet; they get all of their nutrients from nectar, tree saps, rotting fruits and other sources.
We enjoyed watching our butterflies for a few more days in the habitat and then we set them free! I had to prepare my daughter those few days, she was not interested in letting them go. She wanted to keep them safe inside.
I didn’t get any pictures of the butterflies when we set them free. It happened so quick! I’m not sure any of us actually held one before they flew away. It was a fun experience and I was amazed how much of the process my three year old understood. She constantly talked about how the caterpillars formed a chrysalis and they would become butterflies!
We would definitely get more caterpillars and do this again. I have heard of people making it an annual tradition with their little ones and I think I like the idea!
Keep in mind, it is best to do this project when daytime temperatures in your area are between 55-85 degrees Fahrenheit.