Giant Birdwing Ornithoptera priamus pupa
Giant Birdwing Ornithoptera priamus PUPA
These have been bred for us in limited numbers. There is hardly anything more exotic than having these magnificent giants emerge in your own home!
Pupae are difficult to sex so we cannot guarantee the sexes. To breed Ornithoptera priamus you need to be set up with growing Aristolochia tagala, and to have a tropical greenhouse, but you can hatch the adults from the pupa in the same cages as you ordinarily use, kept rather warmer than normal indoor temperature. 30 degrees C is ideal.
The adults need nectar flowers, which need regular changing. Buddliea at this time of year is ideal. In the wild the butterflies live for weeks on end. In captivity, they need fresh nectar flowers daily and some misting in the cage. They may live quite a few days but not several weks.
The pupae are very large indeed, many times the size of other Papilionidae pupae. Hang them pinned against netting sides of a cage and keep misted daily until the butterflies emerge.
We cannot send outside
Pupae of Ornithoptera priamus £16.50 each. Available NOW. Only very few left right now. Then we will book orders for the next consignment late winter.