The joy of witnessing a caterpillar fly away as a beautiful butterfly is educative and heart-warming for children. Their love for nature and nurture can be fulfilled by engaging in this pet project, writes Anitha Bennet

Has your child been pestering you for a domestic pet such as a kitten or puppy? If you are unsure about making a commitment to caring for a pet and have declined, we have a great pet suggestion — a pet which won’t require constant care and attention. You can find this intriguing creature in your own garden or public park — a creepy crawly caterpillar!
The joy of witnessing a caterpillar fly away as a beautiful butterfly is educative and heart-warming for children. Their love for nature and nurture can be fulfilled by engaging in this pet project. It could also arouse interest in science reading and research.

Choosing the breed
Help your child choose her butterfly by selecting the right caterpillar. The red and black butterfly, which is ubiquitous in parks and gardens, evolves from caterpillars found on lime, Ashoka or curry leaf trees.
Caterpillars that mature into black and blue or pale green butterflies feed on common garden plants such as the golden oleander, pomegranate tree or calotropis plant. Parents can accompany children to search and identify these plants in parks. But before the caterpillar hunt begins, get your child to google for more information on host plants. Caterpillars are usually found under the leaf. Steer clear from the hairy variety, as all of them evolve into moths.

A home for your caterpillar
Once you have found your caterpillar, help your child to make a home for it. A simple cardboard box with a lid is suitable for her crawly pet. She can cut off one side of the box and stick cellophane paper on it so she can see what Mr. Caterpillar is up to! Make some small holes on the lid for fresh air.

Feeding the hungry pet
Feeding this pet will never pinch your pocket. Just gather leaves from the same tree or plant you took her and feed daily.

The fast-growing friend
Your child will be surprised to see that her pet has grown in size in a matter of days. Caterpillars aka larvae are voracious eaters during the initial larva (3-21) days. The pupal stage follows the larval, and is the time when a dowdy looking caterpillar secretes a silken thread from its mouth, spinning it around herself, and finally cocooning in the warm shelter.
Your child cannot exactly “watch” the spinning but can monitor the quarter-spun, then the half-spun cocoon and as days go by, the whole closed pupa. The pupal stage lasts between 8-16 days. After a hectic feeding session, this is the time of sound sleep for your caterpillar. Anyone can take a peek now and then, but it’s best to leave the pupa to slumber undisturbed.

Your beautiful butterfly
Finally, the day dawns when there is a flutter in the box. Cautiously lift the lid and take a peek. A lucky few can witness the butterfly trying to disengage from the pupa. Advise your child not to lend a helping hand. Attempts to help could lead to a broken wing.
Inevitably, she will be excited to witness the butterfly make its way into the world from its pupal shell. If the butterfly has already come out of the pupa, you will see that once you open the box, the butterfly will perch lightly on the sides and dry its wings, with the pupal shell discarded in the box. Your child can note the different hues and shades on its wings, identify the species, and take some photographs. Now release the butterfly, and move on to your next caterpillar.
This hands-on pet project is sure to whet your child’s interest in nature and wildlife as well as provide an opportunity to nurture new life.

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