Caterpillars!

Living Brian · 08-06-2006, 10:16 AM

I've been meaning for a couple of years to plant some cabbages and similar in the garden, just to get some caterpillars to show my young children.

Anyway, we went and bought some flower seeds this year, and the middle child happened to choose Nasturtiums.

And the Cabbage White butterflies have really taken to them.

So far we've been able to watch the butterflies come right up to lay their eggs, and shown the kids the eggs.

Yesterday I found some had hatched, and shoed the kids how tiny the newly hatched caterpillars were.

Anyway, we're really looking forward to seeing how they develop and grow up.

Living Brian · 09-01-2006, 09:24 AM

Hm...so we have about 6 or 7 different types of caterpillars in the garden, most of which are either the yellow and black cabbage white caterpillars or big dark green ones.

Or we did have.

We noticed it became harder and harder to find the big green ones. Figured they were turning into chrysalises and start looking for them.

Then, a couple of days ago I saw one of them on a leaf bleeding. A wasp was buzzing around it. I thought "oh, no! The wasp has stung the caterpillar! Why did it do that?"

But then the wasp landed by the caterpillar and started drinking the blood. And then the wasp became to bite around the caterpillar skin. It was eating it.

Was a bit horrified - I never knew wasps ate caterpillars.

Went away, and when I came back, the caterpillar was gone from the leaf, and under the plant was the severed front end of its head section.

Noticed now how there's a number of wasps flying among the leaves. Realised now they're hunting caterpillars. I presume they take part of the body back for the wasp grubs to feed on.

Never thought watching caterpillars could get so gruesome.

eldragon · 10-03-2006, 03:38 PM

We have alot of butterflies because of our massive butterfly bushes, and therefore have quite a few caterpillars. I put some old cardboard out in my garden, and there's usually at least one under it.

Green ones, black with red, and very fuzzy white ones. They sure are cute!

08-06-2006, 10:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Living Brian Administrator Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,213	Caterpillars! I've been meaning for a couple of years to plant some cabbages and similar in the garden, just to get some caterpillars to show my young children. Anyway, we went and bought some flower seeds this year, and the middle child happened to choose Nasturtiums. And the Cabbage White butterflies have really taken to them. So far we've been able to watch the butterflies come right up to lay their eggs, and shown the kids the eggs. Yesterday I found some had hatched, and shoed the kids how tiny the newly hatched caterpillars were. Anyway, we're really looking forward to seeing how they develop and grow up.

09-01-2006, 09:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Living Brian Administrator Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,213	Re: Caterpillars! Hm...so we have about 6 or 7 different types of caterpillars in the garden, most of which are either the yellow and black cabbage white caterpillars or big dark green ones. Or we did have. We noticed it became harder and harder to find the big green ones. Figured they were turning into chrysalises and start looking for them. Then, a couple of days ago I saw one of them on a leaf bleeding. A wasp was buzzing around it. I thought "oh, no! The wasp has stung the caterpillar! Why did it do that?" But then the wasp landed by the caterpillar and started drinking the blood. And then the wasp became to bite around the caterpillar skin. It was eating it. Was a bit horrified - I never knew wasps ate caterpillars. Went away, and when I came back, the caterpillar was gone from the leaf, and under the plant was the severed front end of its head section. Noticed now how there's a number of wasps flying among the leaves. Realised now they're hunting caterpillars. I presume they take part of the body back for the wasp grubs to feed on. Never thought watching caterpillars could get so gruesome.

10-03-2006, 03:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
eldragon Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 22	Re: Caterpillars! We have alot of butterflies because of our massive butterfly bushes, and therefore have quite a few caterpillars. I put some old cardboard out in my garden, and there's usually at least one under it. Green ones, black with red, and very fuzzy white ones. They sure are cute!