We have a pet caterpillar now
@shaggin (74987)
United States
February 20, 2017 2:57pm CST
A few days ago my son spotted a little fat green caterpillar on the floor.
I got out an empty peanut butter jar and drilled holes in the lid. We picked dead bamboo for it, some leaves and have been feeding it out scraps.
It seems to like the leaves, banana peel and celery leaves so far.
Based on the photos I looked up I believe it is a Noctuid caterpillar.
The only new thing we have in our house that it could have come in on would have to be the rose bush my boyfriend bought me for Valentine's Day.
I added a photo of it to show you.
23 people like this
25 responses
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
20 Feb 17
Cool I bet the kids as well as you are looking forward to seeing what comes of it. I always liked caterpilars when I was little.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
21 Feb 17
We caught the gyspy moth caterpillars once and forgot to let them go that night. The next morning they had built themselves a cocoon in the cage and then we got to see what they looked like when they turned into moths... Super plain and ugly
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
21 Feb 17
@shaggin Ah but at least you got to see them change though I think that would be cool.
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
21 Feb 17
@Tina30219 yes it is neat to see what they turn into. I love finding cool critters to study.
@allknowing (153530)
• India
20 Feb 17
You may soon get a butterfly. Keep your fingers crossed.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38848)
• Philippines
21 Feb 17
That's unique pet. We don't make caterpillar's as pet but at least you enjoy it
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
21 Feb 17
Yes that is true that is what makes nature so fascinating we never know what we will come across.
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
28 Feb 17
@shaggin I think I saw that, but my internet was playing up and restarted everything, I'll take a look.
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
20 Feb 17
I hardly see capillars around here :) is your son happy for his pet
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
27 Feb 17
How cool is that, love the idea it came in on the rose bush, I was thinking it would come in on clothes but your thought was more romantic..
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
28 Feb 17
@shaggin It might turn into a butterfly for you...and I wasn't thinking of snow so you are right - the rose bush!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
21 Feb 17
Will this type of caterpillar turn into a butterfly @shaggin ?
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
21 Feb 17
Cool! I wonder what it will turn into. Oh. I learned as a kid, never store 2 caterpillers in 1 jar....
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
22 Feb 17
@FayeHazel oh my gosh lol I did not expect that at all thank you for that warning I think my son would be very upset if that had happened to his new pet.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
22 Feb 17
@shaggin I think you made the right choice. Ah, I had a "bug house" type thing as a kid. I found 2 cool catepillars - so I put them both in there along with some sticks, leaves, grass (thinking that they'd eat the leaves). Nope.... one of them ate the other one. Ugh.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
23 Feb 17
We have similar caterpillars in my garden always, but I don't know what type of caterpillar they are. I always spotted them when the leaves of my plants have been bitten. Sometimes we keep them to watch them grow into butterflies, but when there are too many, I just have to bring them to the park, as sometimes there aren't many leaves left on my plants. 
I didn't know they eat banana peel and celery leaves too. They are always found on my lime tree or lemon tree, so I thought they only eat these leaves. Perhaps I can try to feed them other leaves next time.
Hope your kids will enjoy watching it grow. 
I didn't know they eat banana peel and celery leaves too. They are always found on my lime tree or lemon tree, so I thought they only eat these leaves. Perhaps I can try to feed them other leaves next time.
Hope your kids will enjoy watching it grow. @shaggin (74987)
• United States
23 Feb 17
It could be the same type of caterpillar or similar. I think most caterpillars will pretty much eat anything you give them as long as it's edible. We do not have lemon, lime or banana trees here. I think this one was living in my new rose bush my boyfriend gave me for Valentine's day.
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
22 Feb 17
My son also has a hermit crab we bought this summer. I fed both the hermit crab and the caterpillar apple skins today.
@STOUTjodee (3670)
• United States
22 Feb 17
Interesting pet choice!! Does your son have a name for it?
@Marilynda1225 (91081)
• United States
22 Feb 17
It will be interesting to see what this little caterpillar turns into
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
22 Feb 17
I look forward to seeing if it becomes a moth or caterpillar. Today when we woke up we saw it has changed color a lot. It is less bright green and has a lot of black on it.
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
22 Feb 17
I just took a look at it today and the color has changed it is less bright green and has more black. My son is jumping around with excitement. I will post a picture later!
