AUTUMN 2011 PUPAE for breeding in 2012

English Swallowtail Papilio machaon britannicus 3 pupae

Pupae of English Swallowtail are seldom available.

This unique race, unlike its European counterpart, lives only in fenland and it now occurs only on certain Norfolk Broads. The butterfly's markings are distinctly darker and the colouring richer. Larvae are easy to rear on Fennel, Carrot tops, the flowers of Parsnip (wild and cultivated) or on its fenland food plant Milk Parsley Peucedanum palustre. There is a partial second brood in late summer. Winter is passed in the pupal stage. This is one of the most beautiful of our butterflies, certainly Britain's largest, and a joy to rear.  Demand is high. Supplies are limited. 

3 pupae English Swallowtail £30.00





 

Map Butterfly Araschnia levana

A charming and quite small Vanessid butterfly that occurs throughout much of Europe but not in the British Isles. It has been established in Britain but the colony was deliberately destroyed. This is a nettle feeder. The eggs are laid in unique pendant strings from the underside of a nettle leaf.  Younger larvae are gregarious. There are normally two broods: the spring brood is patterned rather like a fritillary, as illustrated. In July the second brood (form porosa) emerges looking like miniature White Admirals! Pairing is not easy but success is more likely if you can create a netting sleeve that brings the two sexes together, like the peak of a hood.  Second brood larvae hang up to pupate in secluded places for the winter. The pupae we are offering now are to be stored in a cool outhouse or fridge until April. Then lay them out for emergence in April/May.

Ready now

 3 Map Buterfly pupae £5.00
 


 

Duke of Burgundy Fritillary Hamearis lucina Larvae

A very attractive pupae, speckled and hairy! Curious oval larvae like those of the Blues, but not green like those, more a straw colour, with rows of black dots. They live on Primrose or Polyanthus leaves. Not difficult to rear on a potted plant. Resulting pupae have similar colouring and pattern. Store the pupae in a fridge until May when the delightful butterflies emerge. Very seldom available.

Ready September

4 Duke of Burgundy pupae £16.00 £12.00 SPECIAL OFFER limited time

Oak Hawk Marumba quercus pupae sold in pairs

A very special European rarity. We have just a few pupae of this much sought after species. Pairings are not difficult. The larvae feed on Oaks, with a preference for Evergreen Oaks. Special price at the moment.

Click on View to see remarkable camouflage 

A PAIR of Oak Hawk pupae for £15

TRIO of 2 male and one female Oak Hawk pupae £22.50

Single male pupa £8.00
 

Bedstraw Hawk Hyles gallii

A rare visitor to Britain. Keep the pupae cool for winter. The moths emerge in June/July. Set up with nectar flowers and potted Bedstraw. The larvae are fast growing and eat a lot. They are boldly marked with colourful stripes and large round spots along the length of the body.  There are usually two or more broods in the year.

Available late November

3 Bedstraw Hawk pupae £12.50

Small Lappet Phyllodesma tremulifolia

This species is almost identical to our nearly extinct Small Lappet Moth and a perfect miniature of the Lappet Moth: both species are so like a tight bunch of autumn leaves that they rank amongst examples of the world's cleverest camouflage. Larvae feed on Oak Quercus, Birch Betula, Poplars Populus, Ash Fraxinus, Sorbus, Willows and Sallows Salix, Plum and Blackthorn Prunus, Vaccinium. Larval stage normally lasts 5-6 weeks.  The pupae overwinter in a cool place.

Arriving December
 

5 pupae Small Lappet £18.50 

Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi 

One of the Prominent Moths, the Lobster is most difficult to obtain as livestock and we are pleased to be able to offer pupae. This has to be one of the most peculiar larvae in the world! On hatching, the larvae have long appendages, and they look and behave just like ants, waving their long legs about and clustering exactly like red ants. Click on orange View button for pictures. Another peculiarity is that in they do not eat during the first larval stage.  After the first skin change the larvae tuck in to either Beech or Oak leaves and start to become very shapely and bulbous. See the illustrations. Pupae are formed on the ground in leaf litter. The over-wintering pupa inside the loose cocoon, is jet black and intensely shiny, like patent leather. Pupae very easily die from desiccation.  It is best if you can keep the pupa inside its cocoon. Both in winter storage, and when you lay the pupae out for emergence, it is important to maintain humidity, without causing mould.  Demand for this fascinating species is high, so place your order now!

Kentish Glory  Endromis versicolora

A bit of a mis-noma, this species is now found only in Scotland, and parts of Central Europe.  This is the earliest to emerge, sometimes as early as February. The male and female share the same patterning, but the female is much larger and the male has particularly rich chestnut markings. Pairing is easy. Just leave the moths together and Nature takes care of things.  Clusters of bright yellow eggs are laid on bare Birch twigs. Just go out and cut some twigs and arrange them in the cage. The eggs gradually change to a deep purple colour which matches the colour of the twigs. In captivity, the eggs can hatch before the Birch buds are open, so keep some twigs warm inside, standing in water, to get them to sprout. If you can sleeve the larvae on a growing plant, potted  or in the gound, rearing is very easy. The larvae, black at first,  cluster on the twigs. Later they are green and spread out a little, clinging on to the twigs, they look just like Birch catkins. Absolute masters of camouflage. In May the larvae pupate in soil and settle down until the new season starts again in February. This is a very easy species: just make sure you have enough growing Birch (it can be in pots).

Available from late November
                               

6 Kentish Glory pupae £15.00

10 Kentish Glory pupae £22.50

Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia

Britain’s only Silkmoth. The male and female have similar markings, but the female is larger, and the male is more brightly coloured. Emergence is in March/April.  Pairing is easy – if you have a female, she will often attract males from miles away. The Emperor Moth occurs in many rural areas but is particularly found on heaths, where they breed on Heathers. The larvae feed on a variety of plants, from Sallows and Willows, to fruit trees, Hawthorn and Blackthorn, and Bramble. The caterpillars cluster in the early instars, eventually spreading out and becoming brightly coloured, as beautiful as such exotics as the Indian Moon Moth. The cocoon is spun in the foodplant. An interesting construction with a neck and open end, through which the adult emerges.  This is one of the fun species to rear.

Demand for this species is high. Please order early.

Available immediately
  
Five Emperor cocoons £12.50

TEN Emperor cocoons £19.50

 

Giant Peacock Moth Saturnia pyri

This is Europe’s largest moth, measuring up to 15cms across. This species has become very difficult to obtain and may not always be available in future.

The moths emerge in May. They pair relatively easily and produce eggs prodigiously.

Rear the larvae in warm, dry conditions. They are very easy to rear in the first instars and extra care is needed to bring them through the final instars. They repay proper care, growing fast and changing colour. The large larva is as handsome as the tropical Saturniidae and has much in common with Indian Moon Moth larvae, but with sapphire blue spiracles. They do well on Blackthorn and Plum and will often feed on other fruit trees and Hawthorn.

3 Cocoons £14.99   Five cocoons £21.99 £19.50 SPECIAL OFFER limited time!


 

Giant Atlas Moth Attacus atlas, South East Asia

A contender for the title of the largest moth in the world.  Pairing is achieved in a cage that is ample for the size of the moths but not so large that they can get lost. Larvae feed on Privet and are easily reared in conditions that are warm and moist. If kept warm and moist these cocoons will produce moths this year. Otherwise store at about 10 degrees until required for breeding in spring.
 

5 Giant Atlas cocoons £18.00   

10 Cocoons Giant Atlas £28.00
 

Robin Moth Hyalophora cecropia North America

Cecropia is a magnificent sight with its gaudy colouring of red and white on charcoal. Pairing is exceptionally easy. The very colourful larvae do very well sleeved unless too cold and wet. Foodplants include Cherry, Osier Willow, Apple, Plum amongst a variety of trees.

Four Robin Moth cocoons for £19.50