Butterflies and Moths

35

All finished

The caterpillar has

now nearly finished

the third leaf. It will

move on to another shoot

if there are not enough

leaves left on this one.

1. Sew the longest
   edges of a
   rectangular piece
   of muslin together
   to make a tube.
   3. Check how much the
   caterpillars eat and grow
   each day. Move them
   to a new branch of the
   right foodplant when
   they finish these leaves.


2. Find a branch that
   has feeding caterpillars
   on it and carefully slip
   the muslin tube over
   it. Tie the tube at
   both ends.

MAKE YOUR OWN CATERPILLAR RESTAURANT

You can study caterpillars eating in their natural

habitat by keeping them in a fine mesh tube along

with a low branch of their foodplant. You will

need a piece of muslin or net, needle and thread,

string, and scissors for this.

Ask an adult

for help when

using scissors.

Nothing is safe

Caterpillars don’t find their food

only in the garden. Some moth

caterpillars eat wood, some dine

on cotton, and others eat house

dust. Some even nibble feathers!

US_034-035_Feeding_machines.indd 35 11/10/17 3:34 pm