Butterfly Raising: Tanks/Cages

The first caterpillars we decided to raise had a very simple tank. It was an old 5 gallon aquarium with some leaves thrown in and a piece of fabric on top.


Then I discovered that making a "tree" with their food meant less work for me.


Well, the top of the tank wasn't the best because we soon had some get out!


Now we have a 10 gallon aquarium with a screen top (with screen that has smaller holes taped to the inside of the top).

When we only had 1 type of caterpillar in the tank:


After we added more caterpillars:


Last year, we left the chrysalises in the 10 gallon and released them from there. This year, the 10 gallon is a little crowded so I made a flight cage for chrysalises. It's just a mesh hamper with some fabric on the bottom (so the butterflies can get their footing if they fall) and garden netting over the opening.

There are 6 Black Swallowtail chrysalises and 2 Luna Moth cocoons in this picture.


2012 Update:
The aquarium was needed for the tadpoles we're raising so hubby was so kind to make me a new butterfly cage. Newborn caterpillars are kept in a jar until the second instar to discourage escapees.

Don't forget to check the new tab at the top called "Raising Butterflies" for my other posts!



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Project 52: Week 27

A look at our caterpillars.

Our 6 Black Swallowtails..4 days old


Our biggest Luna Moth


The other 3 Luna Moths...not sure how old they are b/c they arein different instars. We got them a week and a half ago.

Difference Between Butterflies and Moths

Some may think that the difference between butterflies and moths is simply that butterflies are active during the day and moths are active at night or that butterflies are prettier than moths. The first part is mostly true but there are some day flying moth. You know the second part is not true when you look at the Luna Moth and the Polyphemus Moth. So what makes butterflies and moths different?

There are a few:

Both butterflies and moths start off as caterpillars but butterflies make a chrysalis and moths make a cocoon.
Chrysalis


Cocoon


The antennae on butterflies and moths are also different.
Butterflies have thin antennae that are clubbed on the end.


Moths, on the other had, have more comb-like or feathery antennae.


Another difference is in their bodies.
Butterflies have smooth, slender bodies.


Where as moths have stout, furry bodies.


One other difference I would point out is their typical resting position.
Butterflies tend to rest with their wings up.


Moths tend to rest with their wings out.

Polyphemus Moth

The Polyphemus Moth is another one that we didn't raise but released. The end of last October, my dad had found a good size caterpillar. He put it in a jar with a leaf and brought it home to me. By the time I got it, it had already made it's cocoon. By my dad's description of the caterpillar we thought that it was probably a Luna Moth. Because it was already October, the caterpillar over wintered in our butterfly tank on our porch. Today, it finally emerged! As it turns out, it wasn't a Luna Moth but a Polyphemus Moth. Both look very similar when they are caterpillars and cocoons.

Polyphemus Moth plants hosts:

• Birch
• Maple
• Oak
• Willow

The cocoon last October:


Just emerged, wings haven't inflated yet


The little hole it made in it's cocoon


The release:






It's a girl! Her antennae would be fuller if she were a he.