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Insurance What to do if your caterpillars die In an average year, about 2 percent of Earth’s Birthday Project’s caterpillars fail to complete their life cycles. EBP insects are guaranteed—you can quickly get free replacements. Even so, dead caterpillars can seem like disaster to a science unit, or they can appear to ruin an Earth Day celebration. Reasons vary from delivery problems like extreme heat or cold in trucks to the caterpillar food being tainted by bacteria or mold. Fortunately, dead caterpillars don’t have to be a disaster. Many teachers have discovered ways to transform mishaps into living, hands-on science. The following classroom-tested ideas can help ensure that your science unit or Earth Day celebration is 100 percent successful. In the wild, only 1 percent of butterfly eggs produce healthy adult insects. Caterpillars and butterflies supply vast amounts of food for spiders, ants, wasps, lacewings, beetles, dragonflies, snails, frogs, toads, lizards, mice, hedgehogs, skunks, birds and many other animals. They are essential parts of North American food webs. Prepare Your Students 1. Before your caterpillars arrive, talk about dangers caterpillars face in the wild: predators, parasites, diseases, chemical poisons (insecticides, herbicides), bad weather and wildfire. Have a class discussion about food chains and decomposers. Help your students have realistic expectations. 2. Make the activity a scientific inquiry from the start. Don’t predict a single outcome; some caterpillars may become butterflies, some may not. Your painted ladies are wonderful, but they’re not pets. They are wild animals and scientific specimens for observation and study. Don’t name caterpillars! 3. Make a list of things caterpillars need for successful metamorphosis: moderate temperatures, nourishing food, fresh air, protection from predators and disease. Remind students that they are scientists, watching carefully and measuring changes in their specimen caterpillars. Encourage the children to be gentle and quiet near the caterpillar cups or when they find insects outside. 4. Make a list of things that can go wrong. Mention the possibility that mold or bacteria might already be growing in the caterpillar food or that caterpillars may be carrying a virus. For younger students, mention germs or tiny plants and animals that we can’t see. 5. If you suspect that something is wrong with your painted ladies, call 800-698-4438 for information and to request replacements. 6. If your insects die, help students understand how. Make it a scientific investigation. Review your discussion about food webs and decomposers. Remind the students that millions of healthy caterpillars and butterflies live in the wild. To take minds off dead insects, make paper caterpillars, chrysalises and butterflies to decorate your classroom windows. 7. If you intended to release painted lady butterflies as part of an Earth Week celebration, you may also want to compost the contents of your caterpillar cup (bury it in a small, deep hole). Scatter birdseed or hang simple bagel bird feeders as your gift to the Earth. For instructions click here. |
  Hollyhock & caterpillar |