Got pet catarpillars so need help

[Mariealana]

I collected some caterpillars from the garden a week ago to show my little girl. I was gonna put them back in the garden but she's so proud of them bless her. They are black and yellow and seem to like this weed that grows yellow daisy-type flowers on it. Would they die if I let them loose now as I've had them a week? If so, I'll keep them but I need a bit of help maintaining them until it's safe to let them go.
I've took some photos - sorry they are blurry, the caterpilllers won't keep still haha. I put fresh food (the stuff I found them on) in everyday and clean the tank of poop out.

I did have 5 but sadly, the caterpiller in the last pic is dead. I found it in the tank a moment ago in a little puddle of water (it was raining when I picked the flowers/weeds so I'm assuming it's moisture off the plants) as I haven't put any water in for them.

Anyway, any advice?

P.s. There is a ton of caterpillars outside on the plants/weeds I found them on but the birds have had most of them unfortunely.

[loripo]

I think these are Cinnabar moth caterpillars. If you do a search on those you might find more info, but I'm not sure you need to do more than keep them supplied with more of the plant you found them on. By the way, if this is ragwort it might be best to use gloves as it can cause irritation on the skin.

[Dogghound]

Definately Cinnabar.

[Mariealana]

Oops. I've been getting the ragwort with bare hands. And it's poisionous isnt it? Oh well haha.

My little girl picked one up that looked dead then it moved and I noticed a spider-like web of silk on the plant she picked it from so I hope I haven't harmed it by disturbing it. Think they are morphing so I'll leave them indoors for now. I hope that means the caterpillar I thought was dead isn't dead - I've put him back in the tank just incase.

I'm gonna research them. You are right about the species of caterpillar thanks

[2dogs2000]

Found this information for you. Hope it helps. It has also been mentioned on this site that you keep them somewhere cool e.g.shed or garage.

Adult cinnabar moths fly very late at night, when they are attracted to light. They rest during the day in low vegetation (3) from which they are easily disturbed (4). It is a single-brooded species, with adults present from May to July (3). During June, females lay large batches of eggs on the undersides of ragwort leaves. The caterpillars hatch out in July and are active until August. They pupate in September in cocoons on the ground, and spend the winter in the pupal stage before emerging as adult moths the following May (2). Ragwort is highly poisonous, particularly to horses, and the bright colouration of the caterpillars warns potential predators that they are distasteful, a result of feeding on a poisonous plant (2).

[Miss Caretaker]

I don't want to start another Ragwort debate but it won't harm you unless you are one of a small number of people who seem to be reactive to it. Even then it'll only make you itch a bit! Picking it won't poison you, but don't feed it to horses or cattle! The caterpillars will eat a lot so you'll need a good supply and add fresh a couple of times a day.
Jo

[Mariealana]

If they are producing a 'silk thread' around them and have gone a darker colour (almost black), does that mean they will soon build a house around themselves? And do I carry on adding ragwort during these stages? They don't seem to be moving or eating very much now (compared to last week when they totally demolished the ragwort I put in the tank 24hrs before and were actively climbing and walking round). I don't wanna accidently kill them by disturbing them while they pupate or whatever they are doing.

They are in my middle room which isn't warm but isn't cold either. They are near my hamsters cage in a tank.

Thanks for the info so far folks

Thanks 2dogs2000 and misscaretaker - I'll inform the farmer who owns the land behind mine as he has ratwort growing too and has sheep and cows and horses in that field.

EDIT : I said the birds had had most the caterpillars in my first post but turns out they have just moved further up the garden. I'm slowly cut the ragwort down bit by bit as it's takinng over my garden haha.

[2dogs2000]

It sounds like your caterpillars are ready to pupate. If so they will not require feeding. They need to be kept outdoors or the moth will emerge too early.

[Mariealana]

Took your advice and put them outside under the ragwort that's left so no birds get them.