Anxious!Please tell me when it will turn to cocoon!?

Question

I have an orange caterpillar found in a garden...I'm wondering when it will cocoon...it's about 1inch long.

Answer 1

It depends on the species.  The orange caterpillar I know is the Gulf Fritillary; it has chocolate colored stripes running the length of its body and black spines on it.  This species pupates (becomes a chrysalis) at about 2 and a quarter inches, which took about a month from eggs I found if I recall correctly, so from an inch it would probably take a couple of weeks or so.

In any case it shouldn't take too long, not more than a month I'd imagine, probably less, unless it's the type to overwinter as a caterpillar (which depends on the species and your location).