ENCLOSURES TO KEEP CATERPILLARS SAFE FROM PREDATORS
Over the years I have found that one of my best assets for protecting caterpillars (I use this for Monarchs, however could be any caterpillar you want to keep safe) has been a cheap, nylon mosquito net. I hang the net from a high point and place pots full of growing swan plants inside it (milkweed to those of you in other countries). This keeps the caterpillars safe from the killer Asian Paper Wasps, and other flying insects that might damage/eat/kill the eggs and caterpillars.
Unfortunately this won't keep spiders, ants, earwigs and the likes, out, however they can be removed if you see them inside the enclosure. I don't seem to get that many, especially if the base is on concrete.
Unfortunately this won't keep spiders, ants, earwigs and the likes, out, however they can be removed if you see them inside the enclosure. I don't seem to get that many, especially if the base is on concrete.
Click on each picture to see a larger view..........
Another important factor, for keeping caterpillars safe from the wasps, is to make sure that no parts of the plants are touching the outer walls. This is why I have put pieces of timber inside there, to push the shape of the net out past the plants.
I have seen wasps cling onto a net and kill a caterpillar that was busily eating a leaf against the net. They suck out the caterpillar's insides and leave the skin.
As you can see, I weigh down the bottom edge of the mosquito net with pieces of old concrete, rocks or bricks - seems to work alright and these are easy to lift out when I need to make adjustments to the net or get inside it. I clip the front opening shut, using ordinary clip-type clothes pegs. They work just fine and it's easy to unclip them to get into the net when I need to.
The fine nylon mosquito net is quite strong enough for the task and I have had this particular green net for 4 years. They are cheap enough to replace, when needed. Any rips or tears are easily repaired. You need to do this quickly, if your net gets torn, otherwise wasps might get in.
I have not put all my swan plants under the net. I still have some growing in the garden and a few others growing in pots outdoors. These are where the Monarch butterflies lay their eggs and I will collect the eggs as I see them.
I have seen wasps cling onto a net and kill a caterpillar that was busily eating a leaf against the net. They suck out the caterpillar's insides and leave the skin.
As you can see, I weigh down the bottom edge of the mosquito net with pieces of old concrete, rocks or bricks - seems to work alright and these are easy to lift out when I need to make adjustments to the net or get inside it. I clip the front opening shut, using ordinary clip-type clothes pegs. They work just fine and it's easy to unclip them to get into the net when I need to.
The fine nylon mosquito net is quite strong enough for the task and I have had this particular green net for 4 years. They are cheap enough to replace, when needed. Any rips or tears are easily repaired. You need to do this quickly, if your net gets torn, otherwise wasps might get in.
I have not put all my swan plants under the net. I still have some growing in the garden and a few others growing in pots outdoors. These are where the Monarch butterflies lay their eggs and I will collect the eggs as I see them.
This one below is a more simple version of the above enclosure, using 4 long plant stakes and a plant pot saucer as the base, with the mosquito net thrown over.
OTHER ENCLOSURES I USE
Other enclosures I use and have used, include a purpose-built Butterfly House and Caterpillar Castles.
In our particular area, the butterfly house filled with spiders, earwigs and lizards that killed the caterpillars. In the end we gave the butterfly house to some other butterfly enthusiasts who don't have the same spider problems.
The caterpillar castle works very well. As you can see, we have built a platform for it to sit on, that has wheels. This enables us to move it around, as we desire, sometimes placing the caterpillars in the sun or the shade, or bringing them inside out of the rain.
In our particular area, the butterfly house filled with spiders, earwigs and lizards that killed the caterpillars. In the end we gave the butterfly house to some other butterfly enthusiasts who don't have the same spider problems.
The caterpillar castle works very well. As you can see, we have built a platform for it to sit on, that has wheels. This enables us to move it around, as we desire, sometimes placing the caterpillars in the sun or the shade, or bringing them inside out of the rain.