SUMMER PUPAE You can order these NOW in advance

Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines Europe

Store the pupae in a cool place, even a refrigerator, loose in a plastic box. An early spring butterfly. Depending on locality and season, the butterflies usually begin to fly in May. T mheale has the orange tips. Both sexes have mottled undersides in green which is actually made of microscopic scales of black and yellow, giving the illusion of green. The curious pupae look like thorns. Eggs are laid on Garlic Mustard, Sweet Rocket and Cuckoo Flower or Lady’s Smock. The larvae live singly and canabalistic. Not difficult to breed, particularly on potted foodplant. Camouflage in all stages is remarkable.

Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae

Suddenly this species has become scarce, in just a year or two.

The butterflies can be kept in a cage for a few days, with plenty of flowers for nectar, and then released to help the wild populations. 


  5 Small Tortoiseshell pupae for £10.50

10 Small Tortoiseshell pupae for £16.00


 

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io)

One of Europe's most colourful and splendid butterflies. The pupae hatch within about 2 weeks.   The butterflies can be kept for a few days in a cage with flowers for nectar, then released into the wild.

 
 

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

We are seldom able to list pupae because the larvae sell out so quickly!

The larvae are solitary and make a nettle leaf into a tent. Inside the leaf tent the larva develops quickly in warm weather, sometimes moving to a bigger tent.  The final shelter is where the larva hangs up and pupates. The butterflies will emerge this year.  If you can keep them on growing foodplant, either potted or sleeved outside, this is the best way to accommodate their need for fresh food as a shelter.

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

In Europe this is a migrant butterfly from N. Africa and it is probably the only butterfly found on every continent of the world. Larval foodplants include Nettle and Thistle but they also take a variety of other herbaceous plants including Mallow and Burdock. Whilst pupae can be slowed down in winter, this is a continuously brooded species that is available at intervals throughout the summer.
 

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

In Europe this is a migrant butterfly from N. Africa and it is probably the only butterfly found on every continent of the world. Larval foodplants include Nettle and Thistle but they also take a variety of other herbaceous plants including Mallow and Burdock. Whilst pupae can be slowed down in winter, this is a continuously brooded species that is available at intervals throughout the summer.
 

Comma Butterfly Polygonia c-album

A chance to breed this attractive British butterfly, or to reinforce local populations by releasing the adultd. 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.
 

Available July / August
 

Ten Comma pupae £20.00

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.

Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia Pupae

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. Pupae emerge this summer.

 
 5 pupae Queen of Spain £19.95

 

Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia

These pupae will produce butterflies in this year. The butterflies will lay on netting. Early in the season, the young larvae may be persuaded to feed (on Violet leaves), instead of going into hibernation. In southern Europe there are 2 or more broods, and these may behave likewise.
 

Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia

The larvae feed on Narrow-leaved Plantain, and live in a cluster until large. These pupae will produce butterflies in August 
 

Spotted Fritillary Melitaea didyma

The male butterfly often has intense orange colouring.  Keep the larvae warm to produce butterflies this year. Foodplants Plantain Plantago or Scabious Scabiosa. Origin Provence.