How to Care for a Heterocampa Guttivitta Caterpillar at Home

Creation and Care of the Heterocampa Cuttivitta Habitat

• 1

  Wash and dry a glass jar thoroughly. Make sure it is large enough that your caterpillar has room to move around that there is room for the moth to spread its wings when emerging from the chrysalis.

• 2

  Place paper towels at the bottom of the jar. Caterpillars do nothing but eat; hence, they create a lot of waste. You will need to change the paper towel daily because of this. Using a paper towel is the easiest and most economical way to keep the jar clean.

• 3

  Place leaves on top of the paper towel; these also will need to be replaced periodically. Make sure an ample supply of leaves are on the bottom of the jar, as your Heterocampa guttivitta caterpillar pupates under the leaves and not on branches.

• 4

  Cut enough cheesecloth to cover the top of the jar with at least 2 inches hanging over the rim. Secure the cheesecloth with a large rubber band. Do not put any kind of lid on the jar because the jagged edges of the breathing holes would imperil the caterpillar.

Feeding and Handling Your Caterpillar

• 5

  Add fresh leaves from maple or apple trees. These are the only leaves your caterpillar will eat, and it will not eat old or dry leaves. Proper nutrition is imperative for the caterpillar to thrive and pupate. Look over the leaves to ensure no other insects or spiders are on them. Spiders love a nice fat caterpillar.

• 6

  Mist the jar with a spray bottle filled with water every few days, but no more frequently than that. The caterpillar will get all of the moisture it needs from the leaves it eats. Misting the jar gives your Heterocampa guttivitta the more humid environment that it likes. Do not put any kind of bowl or container of water inside the jar as your caterpillar could fall into it and drown.

• 7

  Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before handling your caterpillar. Caterpillars are susceptible to many of the bacteria humans carry on their hands.

Care of the Coccoon and the Emerging Moth

• 8

  Avoid misting the jar too often because it could cause mold. You won't be able to clean the jar during the pupae stage. The cocoon does not eat, so you don't need to add food.

• 9

  Check the cocoon daily. The color should be a light brown. If it turns a very dark brown, likely it has died. If you suspect that the cocoon has died, pick it up and gently bend it in the middle. If it stays bent, likely it has died. The caterpillar will pupate all winter, so do not worry if it takes some time for the moth to emerge.

• 10

  Release the moth from the cocoon once the moth has been able to perch on a twig and flaps its wings. You will know its wings are dry and the moth is ready to leave the jar when it jumps from twig to twig using its wings. To release it, you simply put it on a branch of a tree outside and wait until it flies off.