Raising Butterflies in the Classroom

Monarch Rose Raising Butterflies

ART ROOM PROJECTS DRAWING TIPS AND LINKS LOST WAX CASTING

USING TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE LEARNING FUN!

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES RAISING BUTTERFLIES

There's always more than one "best way" to do anything! I am a beginner at raising caterpillars into butterflies, but I have found a lot of help on the Internet as to how to enjoy this fascinating hobby! I have combined tips from lots of different sources into a method that works well for me.

I use Glad Soup and Sandwich size plastic containers and Oasis foam to hold the milkweed (for Monarchs) or dill (for Black Swallowtails). Oasis can be purchased at florist shops or hobby stores. Be sure to get the "wet" kind. Float it in a large container of water until it sinks and then use a knife to cut it into bars to fit the bowls. I cut a hole in the lid of the plastic container. The Glad bowls are nice because you can easily lift one side to add water. The plants do take up quite a bit of water and the water level should be maintained near the top of the bowl.

Make a fresh cut in the stem of the plant and stick it well into the wet Oasis. It is important to always make a fresh hole in the foam.

I cut paper towels into approximately 2" x 2" pieces and place them on top of the lid to the base of the stem. This keeps the little caterpillars from wandering under the lid, keeps them from getting their tiny feet wet, and the squares of paper and the accumulated frass (caterpillar droppings) can be removed. I think of them as little diapers! Caterpillars (especially Monarchs) are voracious eaters, and as they grow larger will need fresh leaves and a "clean up" daily.

Even single stems can be plunged into the Oasis, and they will stay fresh for several days. I also bring small pieces of Oasis with me as I harvest leaves for the day. I think that the wet foam stops the flow of milkweed sap.

I place the bowls in a Reptarian cage. I like the way it has zippers so that one side can completely open. The caterpillars seem to have no trouble when they "go walkies" to find a place to pupate. The Monarchs I raised went right to the top and made their "J".

In the classroom, the students are able to see through the netting to watch the caterpillars and metamorphosis. When the time is right, the cage door can be opened and the butterflies set free. The Monarchs I grasp as indicated on the Monarch Watch web site.. The Black Swallowtails seem to prefer to ride out on an outstretched finger on in cupped hands. I have also carried the cage out-of-doors and simply opened the side to let them fly out on their own.

It is very important to clean all of the materials between generations of butterflies. The Glad bowls and lids can be washed in the dishwasher if placed on the top rack. The netting of the Reptarian can be machine washed with a little bleach added. I also wash the plastic frame of the Reptarian with a mild bleach solution and rinse it well with a hose and dry it in the sun.

Please check out the links on the Tips and Links page to learn more about raising butterflies in the classroom. Those sites go into far more detail than I have here.