Homemade Butterfly Cages for Children

Choose a Size

• The first thing you want to consider when building a homemade butterfly cage is what size will fit your needs. Do you want a small one to hang on the back porch? Would you rather build a large, sturdy cage for the backyard? Also, consider whether you want to house adult butterflies, or if you'd like to store larvae and watch them grow. Choosing a size for your butterfly cage is important in determining how many supplies you will need for the job.

Gather Your Supplies

• The type of cage you plan on constructing will determine what materials you will need. If you're handy with a saw, you build a simple wooden-framed box that will require a saw, some lumber and something to use as a lid like a piece of screen or mesh. For smaller butterfly houses, try a simpler design made of bridal netting and two pieces of sturdy cardboard. These supplies are easier to get, and safer for children to handle. If you plan on housing larvae, try using a simple plastic storage box that you won't mind cutting a hole into.

Assemble Your Cage

• For larger butterfly cages, make a standard wooden box of any size and let one side open to allow air inside. You can cover the box with mesh or netting, or go more elaborate and make a door with two hinges on one side and a latch on the other. For a smaller cage, fold a large piece of bridal netting into thirds, tie each end and place circular cardboard pieces inside the netting as a floor and ceiling. The netting will hold its shape around the cardboard, and it's light enough to hang from a tree. For larvae, cut a hole in the top of a plastic container and attach a piece of netting on the underside of the lid.

Cage Maintenance

• Keep fresh plants and flowers in your butterfly cage at all times. For larvae, keep milkweed inside the container for them to eat. Mix a solution of four parts water to one part sugar and place it in a small dish in your cage for adult butterflies. Boil it first to dissolve all the sugar. Put a clean sponge in the dish with the sugar water so the mixture covers the sponge about halfway. Change the water daily to prevent it from molding. After a few days, release the butterflies and look around the house for objects you can use for your next cage. Be creative, and have fun!