Observing the Caterpillar Cup

The caterpillar cup is a clear, 10-ounce, plastic cup. It is covered
with a white plastic lid with tiny holes for ventilation. Under the lid is a cloth or paper cover that the caterpillars attach themselves to when they pupate.

DO NOT OPEN THE CUP!
The food will dry out quickly and become inedible. When all of the caterpillars form chrysalises, you can take off the lid and gently remove the cloth with all of the chrysalises attached. Tape the cloth inside the butterfly house.

At the bottom of the cup is a mixture of ground-up malva leaves, a caterpillar favorite, for the larvae to eat. There is enough food for the caterpillars to grow until they pupate.

There are 4-6 tiny Painted Lady caterpillars inside the cup, 1/4-1/2 inch long. They get more active and start eating in 1-2 days.

Caterpillars need 4 things to survive:
• AIR through the ventilation holes in the lid
• FOOD and WATER from the leaf mixture at the bottom
• SUNLIGHT through the clear cup