How long does it take a catapillar to make a cocoon?

Question

My son caught 2 catapillars(kinda spiny with little red spots on the back of them) and we wanna know how to get them to spin cocoons and turn into butterflies. I put them in a jar with leaves, twigs etc put don't know what else to do?

Answer 1

It could take three weeks in their natural environment to spin the cocoon....once they are ready to do so. . . .first they have to eat and build up protein.  Once they are in the cocoon, they will start transforming into a chalice and metamorphose into a butterfly which will happen during the next spring or summer season when the same conditions are present as is now.

Meantime put them in uncontaminated straw in an open shoe box or such. . . .mind the temperature. . .go to a library and read up on the subject Lepidoptera

Answer 2

they will do it naturally don't bother them...put them back outside where they belong.....are you going to let them fly in your house or something...... don't be cruel put them where they belong

Answer 3

For God's sake, if you don't know what kind of butterfly it is how do you know what food to give the caterpillars?  Some are host-specific and you could be starving them to death.

My suggestion would be to put them back where you found them ASAP.  For future reference, check the website below.