4 minute read
Contented caterpillars
by zoosvic
Did you know?
Most butterflies in Melbourne Zoo’s Butterfly House are tropical species found in balmier climates, but Caper Whites, Common Grass Yellows and Orchard Swallowtails can be found throughout Victoria.
CATERPILLARS VERY CONTENTED
Behind the scenes of Melbourne Zoo’s Butterfly House a dedicated team of experts help more than 10,000 caterpillars transform into butterflies each year.
Birdwing Butterfly caterpillar
ou might not have thought about it before, but a lot of work goes on in the background to ensure a steady supply of caterpillars morph into Ythe 12 or so butterfly species you see fluttering around Melbourne Zoo’s Butterfly House. “It is meticulous and ordered work.
It’s a very different type of keeping to every other kind of keeping,” says Kristy,
Ectotherm Keeper – Invertebrates at
Melbourne Zoo. The process starts with specific plants for egg laying being placed in the Butterfly House. After about a week of butterflies landing and laying eggs on them, the plants are moved to a heated glasshouse that acts as a caterpillarrearing facility.
Orange Lacewing caterpillar
Soon, caterpillars hatch out of those eggs before they mature into a chrysalis (or pupa) – a process that takes about four weeks. Then, they’re hung up on display in the Butterfly House, ready for the butterflies to emerge and take flight.
Gardeners know that caterpillars have a voracious appetite, so providing lots of leaves for them to munch on is essential. Not just any leaves will do, each species has a preferred diet.
“A few species of caterpillars eat different plants, but most are quite specific. Orchard Swallowtails eat citrus, Cairns Birdwings eat a native vine called Aristolochia tagala and Cruiser Butterflies are fed Passiflora (passionfruit),” says Kristy.
The plants fed to the caterpillars are grown on site by nursery staff tasked
Totes for Wildlife
The only butterfly endemic to Victoria, the Endangered Goldenrayed Blue Butterfly is the fourth species (and first invertebrate) to grace the Totes for Wildlife range, which has featured the Plainswanderer, Mountain Pygmy-possum and Helmeted Honeyeater in previous years.
The funds raised by Totes for Wildlife support the ongoing protection and improvement of vital native habitat. For Goldenrayed Blue Butterflies, Myoporum parvifolium (creeping boobialla) is the key plant needed for its survival. Every tote bag sold will help Zoos Victoria work with partners to plant Myoporum in Western Victoria’s Wimmera region – the only place this relatively newly-discovered species is found in the wild.
Apart from raising funds to support conservation projects, Totes for Wildlife aims to boost recognition of Victoria’s under-the-radar species.
“Since starting Totes for Wildlife, we’ve sold more than 44,000 bags. We’re hoping to sell 10,000 Golden-rayed Blue Butterfly bags, so that means we’ll hopefully hit the 50,000 milestone, which is pretty exciting,” says Peter Lancaster, Zoo’s Victoria’s Community Conservation Campaigner.
Tote Bags are on sale from 7 September in all zoo shops or
Online here
They may be tiny but these caterpillars will spend most of their day eating green matter (leaves).
with keeping the hungry caterpillars happy. If there is a shortage of certain types of plants, ectotherm keepers will temporarily reduce the number of caterpillars they’re keeping in the glasshouse.
“We want as many butterflies as possible, but the nursery team need to keep up with the amount of leaf that the caterpillars eat,” says Kristy, who explains that a monthly butterfly count ensures there is a good balance of species within the Butterfly House.
Disease and pest prevention is essential when caring for growing caterpillars. Plants are kept on water wells to keep ants away and frequent cleaning helps to stop bacteria and mould growth.
“Frass – which is another name for insect poo – needs to be cleaned every day to prevent disease,” says Kristy.
She explains that many people wouldn’t realise that the caterpillars in her care have unique and interesting characteristics, just like other animals.
“The Blue Tiger is a striking blue-andblack caterpillar, while the Common Grass Yellow is a teeny, tiny green caterpillar that turns into a gorgeous yellow butterfly,” says Kristy.
Some even smell different than others, with Chequered Swallowtail and Orchard Swallowtail caterpillars known to emit a pheromone with a pungent citrus aroma.
“The caterpillars are all different,” says Kristy. “They really do have their quirks and individualities.” ZN
fyi
SEE THE CATERPILLARS
You can see the beautiful butterflies at the Melbourne Zoo Butterfly House.
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