How to Make a Caterpillar House

Building a caterpillar house is an exciting science project for children of all ages. While kits are available through hobby stores and educational websites, caterpillar houses are inexpensive to build. You just need basic items from any discount store. With a little luck, you should be able to locate a caterpillar in your yard for the house you're building.

Things You'll Need

• Wire mesh trash can
• 20-ounce soda bottle
• Small plastic bowl
• Window screen
• Caterpillar
• 18-inch twig with leaves
• Large rubber band

Instructions

1. Place a 20-ounce soda bottle, half full of water, at the bottom of a wire mesh trash can. Place a small plastic bowl filled with garden soil next to the soda bottle.

2. Cover the wire mesh trash can with window screen. Cut the window screen so it is larger than the opening of the trash can.

3. Locate an 18-inch twig that has leaves and a caterpillar. Cut the twig from its parent plant.

4. Place the twig into the bottle. Make sure to put the end in the water that does not have the caterpillar on it.

5. Secure the window screen with a large rubber band. Push the extra screen down over the sides of the trash can. Stretch the rubber band so that it goes over the top of the trash can.

Tips & Warnings

• Feed the caterpillar leaves from the same plant on which it was found.

• Butterfly caterpillars will form a chrysalis that they will attach to the twig or the roof of the container they're in.

• Moth caterpillars will form cocoons in the soil.

References

• North Carolina Office of Environmental Education: Raising Caterpillars the Easy, Cheap, Environmental Way