Raising Catterpilar to Butterfly

This quest began one day when I discovered a caterpillar last year on my newly grown calamansi plant. I decided to take care of the caterpillar and transfer it to a temporary container since the plant was too small to provide enough leaves for it to survive.

Fortunately, we have fresh calamansi leaves since we just picked calamansi fruits from my parents' garden at this time. I have read posts indicating that a caterpillar will only eat leaves from its host plant. I am very curious and excited about how our caterpillar will transform into a butterfly or a moth- I'm not quite sure, as I haven't seen it in person. My children and I monitor what happens every day.

remains from molted larva

I am sad to say that after a few days, I found the caterpillar dead. One reason, I guess, is poisoning from the leaves. I learned that the leaves should be carefully washed, as they could have pesticides on them.

Last month, I noticed that something was once again munching on the leaves of my calamansi plant. I am no longer surprised to see another caterpillar. I decided not to remove it from the plant and to let it grow naturally. We are observing its changes day by day.

I conducted further research on the caterpillar I found because I want to know what kind of caterpillar I am raising. Since its host plant is calamansi, a variety of citrus tree, the caterpillar will transform into a lime butterfly, often referred to as the swallowtail butterfly. This caterpillar certainly has a big appetite; it has nearly finished all the calamansi leaves. One morning, our caterpillar stopped eating and moving; that marked the beginning of its pupating period.

The next day, the caterpillar turned a pure green, resembling a leaf. I was amazed to witness this transformation. Previously, I thought that caterpillars rolled themselves inside a leaf. Now, I understand that this is not the case. Another remarkable aspect is its ability to cling to the surface it attaches to. Upon closely examining the chrysalis, I noticed fine silk from its body connected to the stem, ensuring it won't fall even when strong winds blow.

Every day, we visit our caterpillar to observe changes in the chrysalis. One day, I noticed that the upper portion started to change color from green to a brownish tinge. I immediately searched Google for an answer and learned that this is a sign that the butterfly will start to emerge. After a few days, it did successfully emerge, but I hadn't seen the butterfly. We had a scheduled trip for the whole day, and I felt that the butterfly would come out of the chrysalis. Before leaving, I visited it, and it was still there. We arrived too late at night and found the chrysalis was empty.Every day we visit our caterpillar to note some changes in the chrysalis. One day I noticed that the upper portion starts to change its color from green having a brownish tinge. I immediately searched Google to find an answer. I learned that it's a sign that the butterfly will start to emerge from it. After few days it did successfully emerge out but I haven't seen the butterfly. We had a scheduled trip for the whole day where I feel that the butterfly will come out the chrysalis. Before leaving I do visited and it was still there, we arrived too late at night and found the chrysalis was empty.

But after a few days, I was happy again to see another caterpillar, though I am a bit worried because my plant has few leaves left. I wonder if it will survive. I'm glad that the leaves are enough and that it reached the chrysalis stage. I don't want to miss out on another opportunity, so I decided to transfer it to a container.

I cleaned a clear plastic jar, got some clay, and stuck it in the bottom to hold the piece of plant stem where our caterpillar attached itself. Then I covered the jar with a hair net. It was a bigger challenge to place it in a jar because I had to find a secure spot. Even though this is my third time raising a caterpillar, I honestly don't have enough knowledge about taking care of them. Experience has given me a hint that the butterfly will emerge 7 to 9 days after it starts pupating. I was hoping it would come out on my birthday. However, it didn't, so I worried that it might be dead. Still, I am hopeful that maybe it's not ready yet and needs a few more days. That night, we wanted to use our air conditioner, and I wasn't sure if it was okay to place my jar in an air-conditioned room. So, I placed it outside the window where it gets direct sunlight every morning.

The next day, I was already in the kitchen around 7 o'clock in the morning to cook meals for a Sunday celebration (a post-birthday treat for church members), and I remembered the jar. I was too late when I saw the butterfly at the bottom of the jar; it was no longer moving.

The probable reason for its death is excessive heat from the sunlight. I read a post stating that a butterfly should be placed in an area not exceeding 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

I would still try to raise another caterpillar next time, hoping to successfully see a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.  I plan to buy a citrus tree that will serve as a haven for my caterpillars.