After the caterpillars grew up a bit, the scientists placed them in different boxes containing artificial sticks painted black, brown, green, and white (pictured). Some of the larvae were blindfolded using black paint.

Ideas for an enclosed caterpillar home include old fish tanks or small aquariums with a screen lid, large glass or clear plastic containers with holes punched in the lid and/or sides (punch from inside out if you can so the sharp edges are on the outside of the container), critter containers from pet stores, etc.

A Monarch Caterpillar Gets Defensive Caption: A monarch caterpillar assumes the defensive position by curling up into a tight ball. Unfortunately for the monarch larva, this is about the extent of their defense against predators. Many stay away because bright stripes indicate their toxic nature.

Occasionally the mature caterpillars crawl off their trees and roll up in leaves on the ground to spin cocoons. The pupa is the insect itself and the cocoon is the silk case the insect spins around itself to protect it as it pupates. If you were to open a cocoon, you would find a pupa inside.

Determine if you have a moth or butterfly cocoon or chrysalis. Moth cocoons are brown, gray or other dark colors. Some moths incorporate dirt, feces, and small bits of twigs or leaves into the cocoon to camouflage themselves from predators. Butterfly chrysalids shine with a golden metallic color.

Butterflies and moths are perhaps the most commonly known insects that build cocoons. Their larvae, which are caterpillars, are voracious eaters. Caterpillars spin silk, and this silk is used to form the cocoon for the pupal stage of development – the final stage before adulthood.

The act of becoming a pupa is called pupation, and the act of emerging from the pupal case is called eclosion or emergence. The pupae of different groups of insects have different names such as chrysalis for the pupae of butterflies and tumbler for those of the mosquito family.

A: The “casings ” are pupae of a moth. The stage in a moth’s life cycle are four: Egg; caterpillar (the actively feeding stage); pupa a non-feeding stage while the caterpillar transforms into the adult); adult moth.

Life cycle of tomato hornworms Caterpillars hatch, begin to feed, and are full-grown in three to four weeks. The mature caterpillars drop off plants and burrow into the soil to transform into pupae. Moths emerge in two weeks to begin a second generation, during mid-summer.

Butterflies make a chrysalis, while other insects—like the tobacco hornworm caterpillar—makes a cocoon and becomes a moth. They will stay and transform over time into a butterfly or a moth. Most butterflies and moths stay inside of their chrysalis or cocoon for between five to 21 days.

Scary-looking tomato hornworms may wriggle desperately when touched, but their “horns” pose no threat. They are merely an attempt at camouflage. But do be warned: Some caterpillars should not be touched.

Hornworms