It is important that you give any growing caterpillar plenty of food and space.
When handling your caterpillar, be sure that you do not touch it directly, and that you pick up the leaf which it is resting on from the stem.
The reason for this is that caterpillars are very delicate creatures, and that they also have hairs which can irritate human skin.
Caterpillars are not very demanding pets and a normal sized caterpillar will usually only require a large jam jar to be kept in.
The stems of the plants your caterpillar will eat should be inserted into an oasis which has been soaked in water, and put into the jar with the caterpillar.
Don't put any water in the jar or the caterpillar may drown.
The best way to keep caterpillars at home is by buying a butterfly kit.
You can then experience the true beauty of the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
It would be a real shame if you nurtured the caterpillar and then it hid away in the final stages of its life cycle.
To buy a caterpillar, there are a number of places you can look.
When buying a caterpillar, you must also buy plenty of artificial food too, so that you can feed it properly.
When you buy a caterpillar, an instruction booklet will usually be included in your pack so you are fully informed as to how to care for it adequately.
There are many breeds of caterpillar, so you must be sure you read up on all the different species.
The Monarch caterpillars are the most common breed and relatively easy to get hold of.
Check with your supplier, since it may be that they can sell you caterpillar eggs, which would give your child a real insight as to how the life cycle evolves from the very beginning.
Buying live caterpillars as opposed to looking for them is preferable, in that they can be obtained at any time throughout the year.
These caterpillars will usually grow to a medium size and the kids will not have to worry about getting the right food for the caterpillar on a daily basis.
If they did however want to go exploring for food for the caterpillar, you could always send them into the garden to look for extra leaves.
You should note that there are a few important tips which you must take account of if you were to do this.
Caterpillars must have fresh leaves.
They will not eat wilted or dry ones.
You (or your children) will therefore have to collect leaves on a daily basis, or send the kids out to collect lots of leaves and keep them in the fridge.
This will keep the leaves fresh and you could pop a few in with the caterpillar daily.
Another idea is to buy a caterpillar and the plant which that caterpillar will definitely feed from.
This way, they will get food from their habitat on a daily basis, it will remain fresh and it will also educate kids properly how caterpillars live and transform into butterflies.
Buying live caterpillars is a great idea!