Explore the wonderful world of butterflies with this Interplay’s My Living World Range, Butterfly World. This is a hands-on nature study kit that contains all the equipment required to observe and study the fascinating life cycle of butterflies.
The kit is suitable for children aged 5+. It comes with:
- Pop up butterfly cage
- Paintbrush
- Net jar cover and elastic band
- Small plastic pot and lid
- Full colour booklet on to help identify the caterpillars, the life cycle including interesting facts about butterflies.
I love how detailed the booklet is in which it describes how to create a suitable environment for the butterfly. It’s been lovely to learn and explore together with my children.
This kit provides you the basics to rear a butterfly and a caterpillar but they are not included. You can either find them in the wild or alternatively order caterpillars from their recommended UK supplier for £9.50. Please see the booklet for more details. Also you will need a jam jar and daily helping of plants for food for your caterpillars and butterflies.
Rearing Caterpillars
The kit includes a plastic pot with lid. You can use this pot for transporting caterpillars home or storing the very small caterpillars or eggs. If you find a caterpillar, use the paintbrush provided to brush it into the pot. Avoid touching them as you might damage their bodies or some of the hairy caterpillars will give you a nasty rash or an allergic reaction.
Cut a small kitchen towel to place it at the bottom of the pot and leave plenty of fresh plants inside. Replace the old kitchen towel and remove any droppings and give it a wipe down. When your caterpillars over 1 cm, transfer them into a bigger container.
Transfer Caterpillars
This is where you need to get a clean jam jar. Use the net jar cover and elastic band to tie around the jam jar. Inside the booklet, it will show you how to create a suitable environment for your caterpillars.
Butterfly
It comes with a pop up butterfly cage. Use this when your caterpillars get bigger. When the caterpillars have done all the eating and all the growing, they are ready to form a chrysalis. Now we just need to wait for the transformation.
Now it is the best time to look for caterpillars and butterflies. We found a few while walking around Cannock Chasewater. It is very important that if you collected them from the wild, to let them go again at the exact location.
This booklet provides a lot of helpful information and tips to look after the caterpillars and identify butterflies. It definitely helpful to do rear the butterflies with this proper kit.
Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own.