Directions for a Butterfly House

Butterflies can be very relaxing to observe.

Unlike pet birds, which require special food, cage cleaning and even company, a cheaper and perhaps prettier substitute is a cage of butterflies. You can catch them or raise them from caterpillars and maintain them with very little effort by providing them only small doses of sugar-water and daily exposure to sunlight. A proper cage is quite simple in design, and construction requires only everyday materials.

Things You'll Need

• Bridal netting, 6 feet long and 4 feet wide
• Kite string, 2 foot length
• 2 Cardboard circles, 14-inch diameter
• Tree branch, 2 to 3 feet long

Instructions

1. Fold the bridal netting twice along the 6-foot length at about 2-foot intervals, creating a tube with about a 4-inch overlap. Gather up and knot each end about 6-inches from the end.

2. Insert each of the cardboard circles into the tube through the overlap, and press one into each end of the tube. Arrange the circles across the tube, shaping and stretching it. When properly arranged, the circles will force the gap in the overlap closed.

3. Insert the tree branch through the gap in the overlap. This will give your butterflies something to perch upon.

4. Tie the kite string to one end of the tube, and use the string to suspend the cage someplace where it will get sunlight.

References

• Butterfly School: Make a Butterfly House