You can cut whole sprigs of the plant and put in a covered container of water, or you can also dig up a plant and put it in the cage for them. That's what I've done with American Ladies and Harris' Checkerspots. I've not raised RAs or SSs.

Have fun!

When I raise RAs, I take enough of the plant so they can make their nests. I put the plant in water and use a tall container to hold the caterpillars. Sometimes the plant portion roots and I plant it after the RAs are finished with it.

When I raise Spicebush Swallowtails, I either put them on a small plant that I can put in a cage, or I take a full branch so they can make their nests, and put them in a large enough container to accomodate the food source.

I have raised both species successfully by using these methods.

Any small container that has a plastic lid works well for keeping the plant in water. I poke holes in the top large enough to accomodate the stems, and keep the water level high enough to keep the stems in water. Change the water as needed, usually once a day.

Sandy

Thanks Bernergrrl and Sandy! I'll enjoy giving it a try - besides, some extra rooted False Nettle or Camphor would be nice! :)

Kelly

I take 1 1/2 to 2 foot long cuttings of false nettles and place these into gallon water jugs. Don't worry about the RAs drowning. They are wetland creatures. These keep for a long time. After the RAs are finished with the nettles, the nettles can be place in potting soil--I use the potting soil with moisture stuff added. I also have pots of false nettles. I place these inside large net cages. One of mine is about 5 ft. tall.

For Spicebush (SS), I have small trees. I place these inside my tent and further sleeve them with a butterfly sleeve. You can take cuttings (best in early morning or evening and place them into water. You can poke holes in a deli container and use that. Keep the holes as small as possible.

Thanks Runmede, did you build your own large net cages or did you buy them?

I buy screen tents and go through a lengthy process to secure them. Stepping stones around the bottom edges, then pinebark mulch inside and out. Also, landscaping fabric on the floor. Then, I put 4 large plastic garbage cans with rocks in them in the corners to prevent the tent from blowing down. The corners are secured to two trees and large metal fence posts (I put duck tape around the area before tying to keep the tent ropes from rubbing and breaking. Need a bit of shade since full sun doesn't work to well with screen tents and rearing. I've in the past placed containers with butterfly bushes around the tent to get a bit of shade.

Here is a link that might be useful: Coleman Screen Tent

IMO you are all worrying about soemthing that really is not that important. The larva will abandon their old nest and build a new nest on any fresh plant given to them.

In my micro habitat water cages when I cleaned a cage I pulled all the old plant/nests and set them aside in an escape proof tray. I'd clean the cage, put it back together and then stick fresh cut plant through the holes and into the water bath. Next I'd clip the old nests from the old plant and placed them on or near the new fresh plant. When the larva come out to feed they move to and feed on the new plant, then construct a new nest there.

Depending on which species of lep and plant and how many larva I had to a cage, I changed the cut plant anywhere from once daily to every few days. The larva didn't mind at all, and this allowed me to always have the freshest plant for them to eat in the cleanest environment to prevent disease.

I know, I still need to take pictures of one of my home made cages. That new digital that MissSherry forced me to buy will be delivered by the big brown truck sometime today... maybe when I have a good day I'll get a cage dug out of storage to try it out on. ;)

Larry

The larva will abandon their old nest and build a new nest on any fresh plant given to them.

This was my recent experience with the American Lady V. virginiensis cats also. I took two of them out of their nests and put them on the new host plant. By next morning, there was a new nest for each. The third voluntarily exited his nest and did the same.

Jeff

When I was a kid, I raised RAs (and any other caterpillar I had) in coffee cans with nets across the top. Threw in new leaves when needed. Poured out the frass when needed. RA cats would move off the old leaves when the new ones were available. They did just fine.

When I first read the topic title, I figured you were raising tent caterpillars or web worms and I wondered, WHY?? ;)

KC

Omg I am trying to learn about calipellers and I'm 9 I have my own garden of callepelers I catah them every day and put them In my room I have decorated my room as a jungle so when they need it I get some tree branches from my backyard and tape them on the wall of my room I love to paint so I make them fell like there outside and homely but your advice helped me because 1 of them died because my pet bird I don't think that you haft to put them in a container but there actuly not in my room my dad let me have his shelf so that's where they are I don't understand why almost every night before I get home from school I think that it is wrong to put them in a box

By ayva

A house is a box too as far as the caterpillars are concerned.

When you take caterpillars out of nature, they are now dependent on you. You need to provide them food and a safe place. Many caterpillars like to wander and expect to find food as they go. Cannot do that in a house.