Raising Caterpillars: A Beginners Guide to Watching Metamorphosis

Find caterpillars on host plants (Monarchs on milkweed, Swallowtails on dill). Keep in a ventilated container with fresh food plants changed daily. Caterpillars grow 100x their birth weight in 2-4 weeks.

They molt 4-5 times. When ready to pupate, they attach to a surface with silk and form a chrysalis (butterflies) or cocoon (moths). Metamorphosis takes 1-2 weeks.

Release adults near their host plants. The entire process takes 3-5 weeks..