Witness the Amazing Butterfly Life Cycle
The Live Butterfly Pavilion gives children, students and families an unforgettable opportunity to watch caterpillars change into chrysalides and then emerge as beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies. Raise and feed your very own butterflies and then release them into the wild! The entire transformation from caterpillar to adult butterfly takes about three weeks, depending on the temperature and humidity in your area.
Observe An Amazing Transformation 10 caterpillars will arrive in 2 clear plastic cups (5 caterpillar in each cup) with all of the nutritious food they need to grow into adult butterflies. Place the cups in a safe place away from direct sunlight. The caterpillars will remain in the cups and will eat, spin silk and grow to TEN times their original size! After seven to ten days they will hang upside down and harden into chrysalides (chrysalides are also known as pupae).
Your Very Own Butterflies
The Butterfly Pavilion Habitat is a reusable, 2-foot tall cylindrical mesh container perfect for up close butterfly viewing! It conveniently hangs from the Velcro strap or can be placed on a table or desktop. When not in use, it folds flat for easy storage. Once the chrysalides have hardened, gently move them to the pop-up butterfly habitat. It will take about seven to ten more days for them to complete the transformation to adult butterflies. Everyone will want to keep a close eye on the habitat so they can witness the fascinating birth of their Painted Lady Butterflies.
Once your butterflies emerge, children will love feeding them! The habitat's see-through mesh and zippered entry allow for easy maintenance. To make the butterfly nectar, thoroughly mix 3 teaspoons of sugar with 1 cup of water. Place fresh flowers in the habitat for your butterflies to rest on and then use the feeding pipette included to sprinkle the nectar on the flowers daily. Watch your butterflies eagerly sip the nectar with their long proboscises. Butterflies also love to feed from fresh slices of watermelon and oranges!
Let Your Butterflies Go!
Enjoy your butterflies for a few days, and then experience the excitement of letting them go to continue their amazing life cycle. Release your butterflies within a week of their emergence from the chrysalides when temperatures are above 55 degrees. Simply take the butterfly habitat out to your yard, unzip the cover, and let your butterflies go. Butterflies will often visit on little hands and faces before flying away. Watch for your butterfly friends, as they may decide to remain in your garden for a few days!
