White Admiral camilla 5 larvae each in its hibernaculum

White Admiral Limenitis camilla

 Demand will is great for this popular species, whose livestock is very difficult to obtain.

The caterpillar lives solitarily at the tip of a Honeysuckle leaf. When tiny it decorates itself with its own dried droppings which gives it effective camouflage.

Later it constructs an individual hibernaculum at the end of the leaf, which it rolls up to form its winter quarters.

Store the hibernacula cool for the winter, until March, when the buds of Honeysuckle begin to develop. The solitary larva takes up position on the leaf main stem, eating and growing, until it hangs up to pupate in June.

Store the hibernacula in a plastic box in a cool place. Honeysuckle leafs early so be ready as early as February.