Lost - one caterpillar

[loripo]

Just over a week ago I found a small caterpillar in an organic cauliflower. Having had some ID'd before I quessed it to be a Small White. It was about 1cm long. Just out of interest I put it with some of the leaves into a small plastic box. It seemed ok and was eating and creating lots of droppings and I kept it topped up with more fresh cauli leaves. Yesterday when I went to see how it was doing, there it was - gone! The box was on a small cupboard about 1metre high, covered with a cloth (I didnt fasten the lid down). I had had a good look round a can't see any sign of it. If it was ready to pupate (it was about 2.5cm at last look) how far would it go assuming it could get off the cupboard? If it's gone behind the radiator it will get cooked I'm afraid

[charlieb]

Yeah, it is a Small White, and at 2.5cm it sounds like it has wandered off to pupate. They can wander some distance - have you looked behind the cupboard?

They overwinter as pupa (although that may depend on the heating in the room) so you may wake up one day next year and find a butterfly flying around...

[loripo]

Yes - moved things carefully and looked underneath. It grew so quickly - in just a week. I was about to put it into something bigger with a dark area, but it legged it before I could. Would have loved to see the pupa.

I do now prepare my caulis very carefully as this is about the sixth. My grandson says not to worry until I find half of one in my dinner

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by loripo

...until I find half of one in my dinner

I always think that they are only made from the plant anyway, how can it matter, but it doesn't encourage me to scoff one to see.