More on How to Feed a Caterpillar

I had already written an article about how to take care of a caterpillar when you don't know what kind it is. It's been about two months since I found mine and wrote the article and since then I've learned a lot.

We were certain that our caterpillar, Timmy Enigma, would have gone into his cocoon or chrysalis around Halloween. We were sure wrong about that. He just went along his merry way in his jar, munching on the green leaves that we scavenged from the autumn mess outside. He shedded his skin after about a month and doubled in size.

A couple of weeks ago, we decided to experiment. So, we threw a piece of red lettuce into the jar. He ate the entire thing within an hour. Apparently we found his favorite meal. Since then, we've been feeding him the red lettuce, and he's been gobbling it up like crazy. Because of how much he was eating, he doubled in size again.

After doing some research online, and applying some guesswork, we decided that he may be an Army Caterpillar. Basically a pest to farmers since they come in "armies" and devour crops. Having some kind of an idea of his species, we now see the sense in his affinity for lettuce, even if farmers would rather see him dead than feed him. But, this lone soldier is a part of our family now, and has thus far been with us for the holidays.

Since learning of his possible species, and his sudden growth, we moved him out of his glass jar and into a larger plastic one. The larger jar was filled with about an inch of peat moss, which is organic and won't poison him. When he's ready, he should burrow into the moss and form his pupa where he'll transform into a moth. Once he grows his wings, we'll set him free.

From what I learned, here's a simple layout of what to do with an unidentified caterpillar:

- Provide means for the cocoon, pupa, or chrysalis. Have at least 1/2 - 1 inch of dirt or soil of some sort if it's a burrowing type, or supply a twig in which it can hang it's chrysalis. Some might be able to hang it from the lid of the jar, but only if they actually manage to climb up the slick side of the jar.

- Don't stop experimenting with food type. Just because it's eating one sort of leaf, that doesn't meant that that's the kind it likes or needs.

- Don't move the jar if you can help it. Leave your fourteen legged friend as undisturbed as possible. Let him do his thing and observe.

- When your caterpillar finally does change into the moth or butterfly, set it free. Don't touch it, since you might accidentally rub the powder off the wings which it needs to fly. Simply take it in the jar and removed the lid. If it doesn't fly out on it's own, it doesn't hurt to shake it out.