|
|
|
|
 |
|
School BUTTERFLY SAVER PACK |
|
 |
School BUTTERFLY SAVER PACK
Ten larvae each of the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Butterfly. The first sent in late April to mid-May and the second usually a week or two later.
May larvae dispatch time often coincides with half term. At this time orders will be given priority if an alternative address is given for the half term period.
Prepare foodplant as described below. These two species ordered together are a cost saving on buying them separately, and they demonstrate two very different looking butterflies. Please order early. Instructions are printed below and not sent WITH the larvae.
School BUTTERFLY SAVER PACK £23.95
The best way to keep the young caterpillars is on potted nettles which should be prepared in March, regularly watered, and kept out of doors to make stocky growth. Prepare more than one pot of nettle. When the young larvae are received, bring the potted nettle indoors and place the young larvae on the foodplant, where they will look after themselves until they finish the food and are large enough to be kept in a cage on cut nettle in a jar of water. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Painted Lady 5 larvae in Pot on Diet |
|
 |
Five Painted Lady larvae in Total Environment Pot
The five Painted Lady caterpillars live their whole life inside the see-through pot which contains all they need from birth to pupating. You need add no food. You don’t even clean them out and they look after themselves over weekends!
The larvae grow quite quickly in summer indoor conditions (never keep them in direct sunshine). The container is easily passed round a group without disturbance to the larvae.
When the larvae have finished eating, they suspend themselves from a silk pad spun on special absorbent paper in the lid. Here they cast their caterpillar skin. If you are lucky and look at the right moment you can see the actual moment of change from caterpillar to chrysalis.
Let the chrysalis harden for a couple of days, then hang the paper pinned inside a cage for the butterflies to emerge.
You can keep the butterflies for a few days in a cage with nectar flowers. Then release them into the wild where they may breed naturally in your area.
The instructions are printed above - please note them for the arrival of the larvae which are not sent with further instructions.
Available NOW
One pot of 5 Painted Lady caterpillars £10.95
Five pots of 5 Painted Lady caterpillars, for group study, £45.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Painted Lady cardui larvae |
|
 |
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
The Painted Lady butterfly occurs in more continents of the world than any other butterfly. The larvae are easy to rear on Thistle (its preferred food plant), Stinging Nettle, Mallow, Burdock, Hollyhock and will often take other foodplants. An ideal species for schools.
Each larva lives solitarily from birth. It spins a protective silk cover, living at first off the leaf cuticle. When possible, keep the larvae on a growing foodplant, which enables the caterpillar to make its silk cover, and move on to fresh food when it requires. If kept on cut food, please ensure that the plant is kept fresh and changed before the quality of the food suffers. This of course applies to all species, but the method has to take into account the solitary habit of the larva, and its protective silk.
Depending on temperature, the larvae pupate in a little over a month. Butterflies emerge in 2-3 weeks. The cycle continues throughout summer and several broods are possible in a season.
The butterflies can be kept with nectar flowers for some days, and then released to breed in the wild.
Available NOW
Ten Painted Lady larvae £9.95
20 Painted Lady larvae £15.95
FOR PUPAE PLEASE SEE CURRENT PUPAE SECTION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eyed Hawk ocellata eggs/larvae |
|
 |
Eyed Hawk Smerinthus ocellata
Fascinatingly camouflaged larvae which exactly match their leafy background. Easy to breed. The larvae feed on Willow and Apple. At pupation time, provide a container of peat to a depth of about 10cm, with a lid. The larvae burrow to pupate. The moths, with vivid eye-spots, emerge the following spring.
Eggs available from April/May
15 eggs (or 10 larvae, according to availability) £6.95
40 eggs Eyed Hawk for £10.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
