How to Take Care of Inchworms

Both children and adults will enjoy caring for inchworms, watching them build their chrysalis and then emerge as a moth. Inchworms are very easy to care for and provide a learning experience for children. Follow these steps to care for and raise inchworms.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Jar with a lid
• Sticks and leaves
• Magnifying glass

1. Get a plastic or glass jar. Know that a glass jar will allow better viewing ability for you. Poke a few holes in the lid so that the inchworms can have air, but not large enough so that they can escape.
2. Gather some natural materials to place in the jar. Inchworms will enjoy having sticks on which they can climb. In addition, place a few different types of leaves for them to eat. Leaves from the plant on which you found the inchworms would be the best choice.
3. Place the jar in a place where you can watch the inchworms. However, don't let children handle the jar, unless they are old enough to know how to handle it carefully to avoid damage to the inchworms.
4. Use a magnifying glass to see the details of the inchworm's bodies and activities up close. This will work best if you have chosen a glass jar for the inchworm's home.
5. Wait for the inchworms to emerge from their chrysalis once they have enveloped themselves in them. This may take some time, so remind children to be patient.
6. Release the moths outside once they emerge from the chrysalis. This is very important, because if you leave the moths in the jar, they can damage themselves by flying up against the sides of the jar when trying to get out.