What is frass?
Frass is the excrement of insect larvae, also known as caterpillar poop! The brown balls you see in your Cup of Caterpillars are caterpillar frass.
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Learn about Butterflies
How many legs does a caterpillar have?
How many legs does a caterpillar have? The answer may surprise you!. A caterpillar usually has 16 legs: three pairs of true legs and five pairs of "prolegs"! Prolegs are different than "true" legs in that they are not segmented, acting more like suct
Where do butterflies go in winter?
Butterflies can fly and feed safely in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Like all insects, their bodies contain chemical compounds known as glycols, which help them endure cold weather. Once the snow starts falling however, they'll need a pla
Do butterflies sleep?
What exactly do butterflies do at night? As they can't get any nectar and it's too dark to find a mate, butterflies choose to take their rest once the sun goes down. Butterflies don't sleep as we do, but they do enter a dormant state of inactivity as
What is an instar?
Caterpillars (like your Painted Lady caterpillars) go through five molting stages/stages of growth. Each of these stages is called an instar. So before your caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, it goes through five instars!
What is Lepidoptera?
When learning more about butterflies, you might have come across the word Lepidoptera. But what does that mean? And how does it relate to our fluttering friends?. In entomology (the study of insects) insects are divided into main groups depending on
Why do butterflies have dust on their wings?
The "dust" on a butterfly's wing is not dust at all, but tiny individual hairs called scales. These scales serve many important purposes for butterflies. So you see, butterfly scales are for more than just looking pretty! They serve a variety of purp
Why can butterflies taste with their feet?
Butterflies (including our very own Painted Ladies) have the ability to taste with their feet. That may seem strange to us, but it serves a very important purpose. When a butterfly lands on a leaf, they are tasting and testing it to see if their cate
How long do butterflies live?
All butterflies die within a few weeks after emergence from the chrysalis. The exception to this are those butterflies that emerge near the wintertime and have their physiologies placed on hold by the colder temperatures. In the few weeks of their li
Do Painted Lady butterflies migrate?
Painted lady butterflies migrate only occasionally, and migrations occur every 8 to 10 years on average. When these migrations occur in the autumn, millions of butterflies form streams of flying individuals that sweep from Canada and the contiguous U
What is the difference between a moth and a butterfly?
Butterflies and moths may look similar, and they both fall under the classification Lepidoptera, but they are two distinct species. There are few ways you can tell the difference between these two fluttering insects. There you have it! The next time
What is the biggest threat to butterflies?
The biggest threat to butterflies is loss of their habitat.
How many eyes do caterpillars have?
Caterpillars don't see the world like you and me! The have 12 eyes, six on each side of their head, that don't really process images but do help them detect light.
How far can painted ladies fly?
Painted ladies can cover a lot of ground and can fly up to 100 miles per day, and 2500 miles in their lifetime!
How fast do Painted Lady butterflies fly?
Painted Ladies are fast flyers, they can reach speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour!
How long does it take for a butterfly’s wings to harden after emergence?
When your butterfly first emerges, you’ll notice that their wings are crumpled and damp from being inside the chrysalis. It takes about an hour for their wings to fully form and harden.
What's the difference between and chrysalis and a cocoon?
You may be wondering, what's the difference between a chrysalis and a cocoon? While the words may be used interchangeably, they actually are two different things!. A chrysalis is a hard outer shell that protects the butterfly pupa as it develops. A c
What is a larva?
A larva is the juvenile form many animals take before they go through metamorphosis. In Insect Lore's case, "Larva” is another word for “caterpillar”!
How do butterflies eat?
Butterflies don't have a mouth like you and me, so how do they eat? The butterflies feed upon nectar with their elongated proboscis. The proboscis acts as a tube through which the butterfly sips its food. When they are not eating, the butterfly keeps
How many legs does a butterfly have?
It may look like your butterfly only has four legs, but it really has six! The last set of your butterfly’s legs is tucked up high on the thorax and is very easily overlooked. Butterflies are insects, and all insects have six legs.
How do I feed my butterflies?
To make nectar for your butterflies, mix 2 teaspoons of sugar with 1/4 cup water and dissolve thoroughly drip a few drops of nectar onto the feeder sponge daily. If you do not have a feeder sponge, drip a few drops of nectar onto a cotton ball, place
When should I feed my butterflies?
It may be tempting to offer your butterflies some food right after they emerge, but they need some time to adjust after their big transformation. Offer your butterflies some food a few hours after emergence.
How can I tell if my butterflies are male or female?
Because of their egg mass, females have a larger, more rounded abdomen than males. Look at your butterflies from above. The male butterfly’s abdomen has straight sides, while the female’s abdomen is curved.
How long is the butterfly life cycle?
Once your caterpillars arrive, the entire life-cycle from caterpillar to butterfly is approximately three weeks.
Which butterfly species does Insect Lore provide?
Insect Lore only carries the Painted Lady butterfly. The latin name for the Painted Lady butterfly is "Vanessa Cardui ". Painted Ladies are one of the most hardy and widespread butterfly species in the world, and are native to Canada, the United Stat