MetaChat - there is a jar full of caterpillars on my shelf

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

24 October 2005

there is a jar full of caterpillars on my shelf →[More:]
Along with some pieces of asclepias tuberosa. (orange butterfly weed/milkweed)

If the forcasts are right and it only barely freezes tonight, the butterfly weed will likely be fine and I can return them to finish doing what they do and they can fly south and all of that. Otherwise I might have a bunch of hungry caterpillars. I did put a sheet over the butterfly weed. And yes, I know I am insane.

post by: weretable and the undead chairs at: 20:20 | 8 comments

That's not at all insane. My mother did the same thing last year.

posted by Specklet 24 October | 20:25

Do they have mad cow?

posted by interrobang 24 October | 20:26

weretable and the undead chairs: Champion of caterpillars everywhere.

Or as we used to call them, callapitters.

posted by iconomy 24 October | 20:32

Good deed, weretable! I wish I had some.

(I hatched some praying mantises this spring, and for a while they were right here next to the computer.)

posted by mudpuppie 24 October | 20:35

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by weretable and the undead chairs 24 October | 20:36

I think they were playing dead since I bothered them or had already gotten a little too cool or something. When I first brought them in, they were all at the bottom of the jar or just curled up on part of the plant, but now they are all climbing around and starting to eat. Fascinating to watch.

posted by weretable and the undead chairs 24 October | 20:38

Hey! Send some hungry caterpillars over this way!

posted by Edible Energy 24 October | 21:46

When my kids were young they had a class in school where they learned that the breeding areas for monarch butterflies was shrinking due to urbanization.

We lived along a railroad line with ditches full of Milkweed and Mullen plants so they went out and collected hundreds of monarch cocoons and gave them a good home in our home.

One morning I work-up to hundreds of newborn butterflies hanging all over the house drying their wings. We open the doors and by nightfall they were on their way.

Nice gesture weretable. Hope they are well.

posted by arse_hat 25 October | 00:10

← Support Our Ribbons || Hobosexuals. →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN