Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Know If a Caterpillar in a Cocoon Is Dead
How to Know If a Caterpillar in a Cocoon Is Dead. Caterpillars, before turning into butterflies and moths, remain in a cocoon from a few days or weeks to even a few years for some drought-adapted species. If you are raising caterpillars that have formed a cocoon, you may understandably become anxious as to whether the caterpillars are still alive....
Caterpillars, before turning into butterflies and moths, remain in a cocoon from a few days or weeks to even a few years for some drought-adapted species. If you are raising caterpillars that have formed a cocoon, you may understandably become anxious as to whether the caterpillars are still alive. Fortunately, you can follow a few simple steps to find out.
Monitor the color of the cocoon. A cocoon from which a butterfly is about to emerge will either turn very dark or become clear. Overly dark cocoons, though, may point to death.
Gently bend the abdominal region of the cocoon. If the cocoon bends and stays bent, the caterpillar is probably dead.
Be alert if the cocoon does not stay bent. A butterfly is soon to hatch. Butterflies take only a few moments to emerge from their cocoons.
