SPRING and SUMMER EGGS and LARVAE Order now for supply in season

Osier Willow cuttings Salix viminalis

Years ago we planted a stick that was floating down a river in Wiltshire.  That was in 1954! It grew – rapidly – producing a wealth of leaves.  We tried it as a foodplant and discovered that not only did British species do well on it, but exotic silkmoth larvae as well.

This stick was the daddy of hosts of willow thickets that we have established in Dorset, Cornwall and in France.

Osier is Basket Willow, the flexible essential for basket weaving. It makes a wonderful woven hedge. It can form living sculptures. Winter or summer, Osier makes wonderful screens and windbreaks. Cover for wildlife and game. Osier is grown as a crop for energy production. In short it is a blessing to the environment, and very pleasant on the eye in landscaping schemes.

We are offering a bunch of 10 cuttings for you to try not only as probably the most universal foodplant for larvae, but a great addition to your garden and grounds. 

Probably the easiest cuttings to strike and grow. You simply push them into the ground, during autumn or spring. Leaves will appear within the first fortnight if planted in spring, roots quickly follow. In the first year they will more than double in size. Next year, in normal drought free conditions,  you will have a metre or more of growth and lots of foodplant. You may even be able to feed some in the first year.

You can store cuttings before planting, either in a polythene bag in the fridge, or standing in water. In water they often start to root. It is advisable to plant them before the roots actually burst out of the bark.
 

This plant is a complete success story – try it now while it is available.

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.

English Swallowtail Papilio machaon britannicus

This unique race, unlike its European counterpart, lives only in fenland and it now occurs only on certain Norfolk Broads. This is a very special species with limited availability. There may be a shortage this year.

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 and supplies limited.


 

Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus North America

The Tiger Swallowtail is perhaps North America’s grandest swallowtail. As a curiosity, a small proportion of females emerge as melanics, not as beautiful as the typical female, but different! They can be bred in captivity and the larvae are as exotic as many of the tropical swallowtails, with the Papilio eye markings and bird dropping camouflage in the early instars. Try feeding them on Cherry or Lime, and they will probably take a wider variety of foodplants.

 
Ten Tiger Swallowtail larvae £12.95

Irish Marsh Fritillary Eurydryas aurinia Egg Batch

A whole egg batch of Irish Marsh Fritillary, laid in a cluster of 50 or more eggs.

Feed larvae on Honeysuckle (wild is best), Snowberry or the natural foodplant Devil’s Bit Scabious.

The larvae live in a tightly formed web, growing a little before they hibernate in autumn.

Pupae are formed in late April into May.

Large White Butterfly Pieris brassicae

No longer the common butterfly it once was. The larvae feed on cabbage but also most Cruciferae which can be better and less smelly for captive rearing! Horseradish is ideal for its large leaves and other species include Rape, Mustard, Sweet Rocket, Turnip and Watercress. Pupae can be stored cool for the winter and normally hatch in May.

Green-veined White  Pieris napi

Very successful breeding this spring enables us to offer special prices!

A delicate member of the White family, with variable markings and prominent underside veining.  The larvae feed on many Cruficerae with a particular liking for Jack by the Hedge Alliaria, Horseradish Armoracia rusticana, Cresses and Mustards.

Very easy to breed. Several generations are possible in a season. The pupa hibernates. Keep the pupae cool or in the fridge until April. Lay them out to emerge in May and provide the adults with nectar flowers and stems of the foodplant on which to lay.

Harmless to garden plants (they prefer wild plants), this is a species you can breed to enhance the local countryside.

Black-veined White Aporia crataegi 

Larvae do well sleeved on Hawthorn (their preferred foodplant), Plum, Blackthorn, Plum or Apple. The larvae live in a cluster.

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.

Black-veined White Aporia crataegi Egg Batch

Egg batches (at least 30 eggs) will be available in May/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.

Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni

This year we will have Brimstone larvae and pupae for sale in May and June. 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.

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.

Clouded Yellow Butterfly Colias crocea Larvae

A great favourite with entomologists and easy to rear on potted Clover. The larvae grow fast and will produce butterflies very quickly, particularly in warm conditions.