Raising butterflies from caterpillars
I blogged a couple months ago about the tadpole project my son and I undertook. It was a lot of fun for us both—at first. We watched with great excitement as 50 or 60 slimy little tadpoles turned into 50 or 60 slimy little toads. And then the algae started rotting, and the tank started stinking. Then Jack’s bedroom started stinking and the last four toads died. I brought the last three tadpoles back to the koi pond where they started.
Like any kid whose parents let him watch too much TV, Jack is sure he’ll die if we don’t buy him every darned toy he sees advertised. Whenever he gets into one of those greedy hissy fits, I know I’ve been negligent. So I turn off the TV and try real hard to think up another interesting diversion that doesn’t involve his sitting slack-jawed on the sofa.
One product he’s been begging for though seemed like a good idea. It’s the Bugville Butterfly Treehouse, and he was very excited to get one for his birthday last week. I made a quick trip to a local nursery that gives away free caterpillars (no doubt as an inducement to buy their $34 caterpillar/butterfly habitat), and we’re now anxiously awaiting metamorphosis.
So far we have only a couple problems: I passed on the $34 habitat, but bought a $5 parsley plant (our new Black Eastern Swallowtails will eat only parsley and fennel), and a beautiful $15 book to help us identify other caterpillars and butterflies, and plan for our butterfly garden.
The only other thing I’m troubled by is the amount of excrement these little buggers produce. I don’t believe for a minute that Jack’s going to take care of cleaning the cage out daily, so I guess I’ve created another job for myself besides taking care of the dog, the cat, the cat’s disgusting litter box and a tank full of fish.
By the way, that fish tank has three new inhabitants: three baby kois hatched in the algae we brought home with the tadpoles.