Wooly Bear Caterpillars.

[3CsMommy]

Has anyone here (or your kids' science class) ever let one pupate indoors?

Backstory:
Back in January, a friend of mine took me to the Boy Scout archery range to teach me to shoot. While we were there, I saw something on the floor that didn't look right and picked up a tightly curled Wooly Bear/Wooly Worm/Isabella Tiger Moth caterpillar. As he got warm in the car he started crawling around in the cup I had him in, but after a quick web search, I learned he shouldn't wake up until spring and put him in the fridge to finish hibernating. Now, spring is coming, and I'm trying to decide whether to turn him loose outside as a caterpillar to pupate naturally/be eaten by one of the many Blue Jays and Starlings in our yard, or if I want to let him pupate and hatch indoors and release him/her as a fully grown moth. I've got a small aquarium to use as the vivarium and will keep searching the web, but I wondered if any of the other crazy animal people here had done it before and had pointers.

I can also update with pictures, etc. as things progress if I decide to keep him inside until summer, if anyone's interested.

 

[Ash]

I remember doing something similar with caterpillars in 3rd grade, but well.... Yeah haha that was a good bit ago, and I don't remember much.

 

[CerLynn]

You may be able to do it, but from what I remember, butterfly and moth caterpillars need to be on the correct species of plant as a food source in order to survive. Good luck!

 

[3CsMommy]

Thanks. Most of what I've read thus far kind of compares the true woolly bear to goats: they'll eat pretty much any "weed" you throw at them. Most sites say dandelions and clover, others suggest milkweed, lupine, hemlock, corn, Maple, Elm and Birch leaves.

I think, if I do this, I'm just going to toss a variety in there, see what she/he eats, and then add more of that as necessary. This is shaping up to be a very interesting project.

 

[Essentia]

:needpics:

Just so you know.

I love fuzzy critters.

 

[3CsMommy]

I set up the vive this weekend before we went to York.

Pics here: http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/album.php?albumid=111

Thus far, I'm stuck between Cubby and Scout for its name (as there's no way to tell them by gender until they've pupated, and even then, it's tricky). It has spent quite a lot of time clinging to the glass behind the little gladware cup, but the dandelions I planted in there with it are both thriving and nibbled, so I'm taking that as a good sign.

Will post more pics when there's a change.

 

[tskoffina]

So cute and fuzzy. Good luck, and please keep posting pictures!

 

[JennyBug]

All I remember about woolies is that my mum would always say that dark ones meant a bad winter ahead... looks like it shouldn't be too bad based on your brown one!!

Looks good, and best of luck!!

 

[3CsMommy]

When I came home from work tonight, I peeked in the vive and thought something was wrong. The dandilions are pretty much dead and Scout is clinging to the side of the tank covered in "mold".

Nope. He/she's pupating already. :clap1:

Once the cocoon is finished, I think we'll have about 2 weeks to watch and wait, and he/she will hatch some time in the afternoon or evening, at which point I'll release it into our back yard to hopefully find the love of his/her life and do the forbidden dance. :thumbsup:

 

[Chinniechantel]

Awesome, I can't wait to see him!

 

[Mystic]

I love those little catepillars. I always find them running across my drive way during this time. Keep us updated!

 

[eroomlorac]

That is pretty neat. I'm following this like a soap opera. Stay tuned......

 

[Rickman]

Neat project! Do you happen to have a picture of what they they turn into?
Just wondering if they're all the same, or they each have a unique pattern!

 

[Kalandra]

He'll turn into a tiger moth: http://www3.islandtelecom.com/~oehlkew/spisabel.htm

 

[Rickman]

Thanks, Kalandra-awesome site, but can't afford $40 canadian to join!
Remember buying beautiful "butterfly"s under glass" from some street peddlers, in Chicago, a few years ago, and they were stunning!!
For $20 you got different varieties mounted in a sealed "dome" - wish I could find them again!

 

[mishellyshel]

So cool.........can't wait to see more pix.

 

[Mrsnation]

He is really pretty. My son is a nature lover and we have Eastern tent caterpillars right now. We have one that has already cocooned. I think it is really neat to what they as they change. My son has to check them very day to see if there has been any changes. the white thing under the caterpillars is the cocoon.

 

[3CsMommy]

Very neat!

Update: He's still spinning, but so far it's still a little orangish fuzzy blob on the side of the tank. Hopefully I can get some more pictures tonight after work.

 

[3CsMommy]

Cubby hatched way back in April... it's just taken me until now to dump the SD card!

Here he/she was when he/she was finished:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_g_Lj97jjjDCXvGknqXi0Q?feat=directlink

Poor thing inherited my huge backside, but got my Taller Half's hair color.