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European Swallowtail P.m. gorganus eggs/larvae |
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European Swallowtail Papilio machaon gorganus
Easy to rear on Fennel and other Umbelliferae, such as carrot tops, Parsnip and Wild Parsnip flowers and fresh leaves. Very attractive caterpillar, bright green, striped black and orange. Double brooded.
20 eggs (or 15 larvae if hatched) European Swallowtail larvae £10.00 June/July |
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English Swallowtail machaon britannicus LARVAE |
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English Swallowtail Papilio machaon britannicus larvae
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.
Larvae ready Jun/July
Ten larvae English Swallowtail £12.95 |
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Black-veined White crataegi Egg Batch |
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Black-veined White Aporia crataegi Egg Batch
Egg batches (at least 30 eggs) will be available in June. The larvae do well sleeved on Hawthorn (their preferred foodplant), Plum, Blackthorn, Plum or Apple. They live gregariously, spinning a very small and concealed web on the branch, in which they hibernate. Leave the sleeve untouched for the winter. In spring they awake as soon as the buds burst, and begin to grow very quickly. They pupate often collectively, making very brightly coloured, angular pupae which are greenish white, with contrasting markings in black and yellow.
Black-veined White Egg Batch (30+) £9.95 June
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Black-veined White crataegi larvae |
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Black-veined White Aporia crataegi Spring larvae
Post hibernation larvae do well sleeved on Hawthorn (their preferred foodplant), Plum, Blackthorn, Plum or Apple.
The larvae live in a cluster. These larvae will produce pupae and adults in the summer.
Summer larvae spin a very small and concealed web on the branch, in which they hibernate. Leave the sleeve untouched for the winter. In spring they awake as soon as the buds burst, and begin to grow very quickly. They pupate often collectively, making very brightly coloured, angular pupae which are greenish white, with contrasting markings in black and yellow.
10 Black-veined White larvae £10.95 May/June
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Brimstone rhamni Larvae/Pupae |
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Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
This year we will have Brimstone larvae and pupae for sale: the first time for some years. Both larvae and pupae are masters of camouflage. Quick growing, the larvae feed on Buckthorns Rhamnus catharticus or Frangula alnus. There are no substitutes, so prepare with some bushes in advance.
10 Brimstone larvae May/June £8.95
5 Brimstone pupae June/July £14.50
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Cleopatra's Brimstone larvae |
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Cleopatra’s Brimstone Gonepteryx cleopatra
We very seldom offer this wonderful species. The orange flush on citron yellow blends to make this one of Europe's most beautiful butterflies. Cleopatra is found in southern Europe. The larvae feed on Buckthorn Rhamnus or Frangula. Larvae are expected in May/June. We recommend sleeving the larvae on growing foodplant. The pupae produce adults later in the summer.
Larvae supplied June
10 larvae Cleopatra’s Brimstone 10.95 |
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Clouded Yellow Crocea Larvae |
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Clouded Yellow Butterfly Colias crocea Larvae
A great favourite with entomologists and extremely easy to rear on potted Clover. The larvae grow fast and will produce butterflies very quickly, particularly in warm conditions.
10 Clouded Yellow larvae £10.00 Sent in Spring |
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New Clouded Yellow Colias australis 10 Larvae |
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New Clouded Yellow Colias australis TEN LARVAE
Almost indistinguishable from the Pale Clouded Yellow hyale. This species was not recognised until 1947 when a Belgian entomologist, M. Berger, found that the larvae not only fed on Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis, but are totally different in appearance, having a brilliantly coloured pattern in black, yellow and green. Larvae will produce butterflies again this season. They will also feed on Crown Vetch Coronilla.
Ten larvae of New Clouded Yellow £10.00 Available immediately!
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Painted Lady 5 larvae in Pot on Diet |
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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
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Painted Lady cardui larvae |
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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
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Comma larvae c-album larvae |
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Comma Butterfly Polygonia c-album
Fascinating larvae with curious half and half markings in black, brown and white, mimicking a bird dropping. The larvae feed on Stinging Nettle, Elm and Hop. They live singly. Fast growing.
First larvae ready in April/May
Ten Comma larvae £8.95
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Map Butterfly levana 10 larvae |
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Map Butterfly Araschnia levana
Probably the first time we have been able to list this species as larvae. 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.
10 Map Butterfly larvae £12.95 June/July
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Queen of Spain Fritillary lathonia 10 Larvae |
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Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia Larvae
The silver spangles on the underside of this Fritillary surpass all other species! A medium-sized Fritillary that is very easy to rear on Pansy. It is best to have potted food. Larvae will produce butterflies this year.
Larvae from May
10 larvae Queen of Spain £10.00
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Silver-washed Fritillary 10 larvae |
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Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia
A limited number of hibernated larvae will be available this spring, dispatch late April. Feed on Violet or Pansy leaves – best kept on potted food. These larvae will produce butterflies this summer.
10 Silver-washed Fritillary larvae £12.95 April |
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The Cardinal pandora larvae |
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The Cardinal Pandorinus pandorina Europe
A very large Fritillary, with uniquely patterned underside in iridescent green and bright pink. It is very difficult to obtain livestock of this grand butterfly. The larvae feed on Pansy and Viola.
A rare opportunity. These larvae produce butterflies this summer.
Post hibernation larvae sent in March
Ten larvae of The Cardinal £12.95 |
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Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Cl. selene larvae |
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Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana selene
We hardly ever have this species available. There will be a limited number of larvae available in May/ June. The larvae feed on Violet and will produce butterflies this year.
10 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary larvae £10.95 |
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Pearl-bordered Fritillary euphrosyne 10 larvae |
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Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana euphrosyne
The larvae feed on Violet and may produce butterflies this year if encouraged by extra warmth and light.
Larvae sent in May
10 Pearl-bordered Fritillary larvae £10.95 |
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Large Tortoiseshell polychloros Larvae |
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Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros
One of Europe’s grand butterflies! Now thought to be extinct in Britain. The larvae feed on a variety of fruit trees, Willow, Sallow, Elms, Aspen, Poplars and Birches. Easy to rear, particularly when sleeved on growing foodplant, but protect from excessive rain. Butterflies are produced this year. A very popular species. Please order early.
Ten larvae of Large Tortoiseshell £12.95 April onwards |
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