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Gaze in amazement at how these wonderful cretures turn into butterflies. These little critters are a wonder of nature. See how caterpillars grow through a series of moults with intermediate stages called instars. The last moult takes them into the inactive pupal or chrysalis stage.
California is home to thousands of caterpillar species. Some will become moths, others will become butterflies. Some will destroy plants and crops and others that are harmless. The caterpillars also range in color and size with different growth stages.
21 mar 2023 · Anise Swallowtail. This beautiful yellow and black butterfly is very common in our area. Its caterpillar form is just as striking, a bright green with distinctive yellow spots framed by black borders. It has several host plants, including our native Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum).
There are hundreds of different caterpillar species found in California! Since it would be impossible to list them all in one article, I chose the 21 most interesting and common ones to share with you. 🙂
If you wish to release butterflies, you have a few choices. The first option is to utilize butterflies that occur naturally in your state. An alternative option is to purchase butterflies from an out-of-state commercial butterfly farm as permitted by the USDA.
Usually available from June thru September, our Monarch eggs and/or caterpillars (larvae) are great for home or school rearing projects. Butterfly rearing is educational and rewarding for youth and adults alike and Monarch butterflies are easy to raise.
Watch these Red Admiral caterpillars grow from a tiny worm-like caterpillar to a crysalis. Then emerge into a large butterfly with striking dark brown, red and black wing patterns. These Red Admiral larvae are very colorful and voracious feeders.
