How to Raise Caterpillars: A Vivid Object Lesson on Resurrection

My dad sparked my interest in butterflies as a young child. We would go on “butterfly hunts” and order chrysalises from catalogs together. Hoping to recreate those wonderful memories with my own kids we have made a little tradition each summer of delving into the magical world of butterflies!  Last summer we found Black Swallowtail eggs and followed the process all the way until our adult butterflies laid a second generation of eggs! Watching this metamorphosis never ceases to amaze me.  Raising caterpillars is a fantastic object lesson to illustrate several Biblical truths and point our thoughts toward future glory! 

Jesus used illustrations in nature such as vines, mountains, seeds, birds, and lilies to describe spiritual realities. Romans 1:20 says “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.” Psalm 19 also describes this principle:  “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.”  (Psalm 19:1-2, ESV)

What does raising caterpillars show us? What do we witness?  First, a worm goes about its business, then it seems to die when it forms its chrysalis, and finally, miraculously, gloriously emerges a beautiful butterfly!  It is the same creature, yet transformed!  I wonder if the caterpillar knows what is happening to it when it goes through these changes.  Does the butterfly remember its life as a lowly worm?  Does the caterpillar change itself or is it changed by God?   Philippians 3:20 says “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” In another passage, 1 Corinthians 15, Paul uses the illustration of a kernel of wheat being sown to point us to the transformation of resurrection, and I think butterflies also make this point.  Examine 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 and the surrounding context, “I tell you this, brothers:  flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold!  I tell you a mystery.  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”  I have included a printable below with these verses.  You can have them handy to discuss with your children while you watch your caterpillars! 

The nitty-gritty of raising caterpillars

1)  The first step is finding the caterpillars!  Where you live will determine what types you may find in nature.  Different types eat the leaves of different plants.  We like this little field book on caterpillars and this one on butterflies to help us know where to look for them and also to help us identify them.

 If you are unsuccessful in finding them in the wild you can, for a fairly high cost, also order several different types from online vendors such as this one: 

https://shadyoakbutterflyfarm.com/collections/caterpillars-and-chrysalises

We live in Minnesota and have success with monarch caterpillars and black swallowtail caterpillars.  This summer we’ve been crazy about the black swallowtails that laid eggs on my parsley!

2)  You’ll need to access plenty of the “host plant” for the caterpillars.  They won’t eat just any leaf!  Monarchs, for example, only eat milkweed.  Black swallowtails will eat parsley, dill, and a few other specific plants.  I like to set up a caterpillar habitat by putting the plant in a small vase and then setting the vase inside an ice cream pail or a plastic tub.  You can buy habitats for them, but I am all about using what I have on hand!  Caterpillars poop…a lot! You’ll want to contain it for easy clean-up!  Place the whole set up in a place that is not too hot or too cold. 

3)  Caterpillars will shed their skin several times before forming a chrysalis.  Each time they shed and grow it is called an “instar” and most caterpillars go through about five instars.  There is a lesson here about sanctification. Consider 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Or consider using C.S. Lewis’s example of Eustace Scrubb in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to teach this lesson.

Many types of caterpillars will make a little silk pad to hold their old skin in place and then they just walk out of it.  It is best not to handle the caterpillars during this process because they may not be able to walk out of their old skin if it isn’t attached!  If you touch their rear and they walk forward you are probably safe.  If they don’t move when you touch their rear end it is best to leave them alone.  Sometimes this molting process takes several days and your caterpillar may appear dead.  Be patient! 

4)  When they are ready to form their chrysalis they may wander away from the plant.  If you don’t want caterpillars wandering all over your house and making chrysalises you will want to cover the pail or tub with netting or a breathable cloth.  Most form some type of silk pad and then they shed their skin one last time revealing the chrysalis!  It is best not to disturb them during this process, but if you catch them in the middle of this process be sure to get pictures and/or videos because it is really cool! 

While they are in the chrysalis, the butterfly completely transforms. It is not like the leg of the caterpillar somehow transforms into the leg or wing of the butterfly. In the chrysalis, the “creature” literally turns into a soupy goo. It is neither a caterpillar or butterfly, it is being transformed from one creature into another, and in the process, the caterpillar essentially “dies” (i.e. a caterpillar no longer exists), and the butterfly resurrects from the “grave” (i.e. the chrysalis). It is simply astounding!!! We have a Creator who thought this up, made it, and put it in front of us to display his glorious, well-thought-out, creation. These are the kinds of things that caused the Prophets and Apostles to exclaim all throughout the Bible the glory of God in his creation. For example, the psalmist in Psalm 139 says, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand.”

5)  When the butterfly is ready often the chrysalis becomes more translucent.  It will break out of the chrysalis and just hang there for a while.  Its body will be fat and its wings will be all shriveled up but don’t be alarmed.  In about an hour it will look normal.  It is best not to touch a butterfly’s wings.  If you desire to handle them just put a finger gently under its feet and let it walk onto your finger.  We release our butterflies within a day so that they can drink their favorite nectar and potentially find a mate!

I have created a free PDF with Bible Verses applicable to rearing caterpillars. Read one each day that you raise caterpillars, hang them up on the wall, or memorize them as a family!

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