Indoor Container for Raising Caterpillars

First, you will want to remove the paper/plastic that is wrapped around the bottle. (This is best done by filling the bottle with hot water to weaken the glue). After you have removed the label and emptied the water, use the scissors to cut the bottom of the bottle off about two to three inches above the base of the bottle. Don't worry if your edge isn't perfect, just get it as close to being straight as you can.

Next, with the cap on the top of the bottle, gently push the bottom of the bottle into the Ziploc storage tub. They should be a perfect fit with the bottle just inside the tub. That's it! Now you can use the bottle cap to regulate humidity inside the bottle by unscrewing it partly or even all the way (please don't leave it sealed tight with caterpillars in it!).

I found small stalks of the particular food plant placed inside the bottle work very well for feeding caterpillars. To remove waste you simply tilt the bottle sideways, separate the bottle from the tub and clean the tub. You can place more food in the bottle half of the container when you do this. I have found this to be a good way to raise caterpillars indoors. It is easy to view them and easy to clean. I plan to raise all of my caterpillars this way from the time they hatch this year.

Happy 'pillaring

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