Current EGGS and LARVAE
If you are a beginner and need information on rearing from small caterpillars, or hatching out pupae, please order the All Colour Paperback BUTTERFLIES. INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT SENT WITH EACH SPECIES, you need to acquire basic skills and this book is a simple way of doing so.
Duke of Burgundy Fritillary Hamearis lucina
It is years since we have had Duke of Burgundy larvae. Now very hard to obtain.
Curious oval larvae like those of the Blues, but not green like those, more a straw colour, with rows of black dots. They live on Primrose or Polyanthus leaves.
Not difficult to rear on a potted plant. Resulting pupae have similar colouring and pattern. Store the pupae in a fridge until May when the delightful butterflies emerge.
Small Copper Butterfly Lycaena phlaeas
The larvae feed on common Dock and Sorrel. If kept warm they may pupate and produce butterflies before winter. In nature the larvae hibernate deep in plant litter. To hibernate the larvae, keep on a potted foodplant, completely enclosing plant and pot in a sleeve, and keep out of doors in all weathers.
Small Copper Butterfly Lycaena phlaeas
The larvae feed on common Dock and Sorrel. If kept warm they may pupate and produce butterflies before winter. In nature the larvae hibernate deep in plant litter. To hibernate the larvae, keep on a potted foodplant, completely enclosing plant and pot in a sleeve, and keep out of doors in all weathers.
The Common Blue Polyommatus icarus
This Blue is probably the most wide-spread of all the Blues. The bright sky-blue of the male is familiar to most people. The larvae feed on Birdsfoot Trefoil, Medick, Rest Harrow and other Leguminosae.
The larvae are very small. If you are not an experienced breeder it would be better to choose one of the easier species to rear.
Deathshead Hawkmoth Acheronia atropos
For international destinations please order LARVAE (a separate product)
Everyone’s favourite. In a massive operation most booked orders have now been supplied, and we can now supply new orders. An extreme rarity, migrating to Britain from Africa. Occasionally the larvae are found in potato fields but that’s if you are lucky and these days with modern machinery the chances of larvae being found are even more remote. There is a world shortage of Deathshead in captivity, but our breeders now have superb wild stock, which is being very productive. Orders for pupae will be supplied this summer, as well as eggs and larvae now.
The most convenient foodplant is Privet Ligustrum, which is evergreen. Recorded alternative foodplants for atropos larvae include Potato, Deadly Nightshade, Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara, and most other Solanaceae, Ash, Jasmines including evergreen, Lilac, Buddleia, Chilli Pepper Capsicum, Olive, Tree Tobacco Nicotiana glauca and possibly other Nicotiana.
The duration of the egg stage is just a few days, and the larvae grow probably twice as fast as our native hawkmoth larvae, completing their life cycle in as little as 4-6 weeks in summer temperatures. These larvae will produce another generation of moths within weeks of pupation, but you can keep them cool in the winter months, and have them emerge in spring.
The moth is just amazing to have alive on your hand! It is furry, and squeaks – almost like handling a little mammal. It also humps its back and displays the blue markings on the body, as well as the famous skull and crossbones on the thorax. The moth needs to feed, not from flowers but from a pad soaked in weak honey or sugar solution. Moths have been found inside beehives, attracted by the sweet smell of honey.
In summer, the pupae will emerge within about 4 weeks. In autumn, to overwinter, bury the pupae in light compost that is not too damp but not allowed to dry out. The top of each pupa should be just showing. Store in a cool place (10-15 degrees C) away from predadors. Bring into the warm in April ready for May emergence.
Deathshead Hawkmoth Acheronia atropos
Larvae for GB addresses ready in first half of September. Larvae for Europe will be sent from the second half of the month.
Everyone’s favourite. An extreme rarity, migrating to Britain from Africa. Occasionally the larvae are found in potato fields but that’s if you are lucky and these days with modern machinery the chances of larvae being found are even more remote.
The larvae feed on many plants in the potato family, Solanaceae, but you don’t have to have these to keep the larvae: they do well on Privet. They have also been found feeding on Buddleia, resulting in a pale coloured larva that matches the leaves, but this is not a recommended foodplant.
The duration of the egg stage is just a few days, and the larvae grow probably twice as fast as our native hawkmoth larvae, completing their life cycle in as little as 4-6 weeks in summer temperatures. These larvae will produce another generation of moths within weeks of pupation, but you can keep them cool in the winter months, and have them emerge in spring.
The moth is just amazing to have alive on your hand! It is furry, and squeaks – almost like handling a little mammal. It also humps its back and displays the blue markings on the body, as well as the famous skull and crossbones on the thorax. The moth needs to feed, not from flowers but from a pad soaked in weak honey or sugar solution. Moths have been found inside beehives, attracted by the sweet smell of honey.
In summer, the pupae will emerge within about 4 weeks. In autumn, to overwinter, bury the pupae in light compost that is not too damp but not allowed to dry out. The top of each pupa should be just showing. Store in a cool place (10-15 degrees C) away from predadors. Bring into the warm in April ready for May emergence.
Hissing Hawkmoth Phyllosphingia dissimiliis Far East
This is the first time offered by WWB.
The larvae feed on Walnut Juglans, Alder Alnus, Birch Betula, and is reported to accept Salix Willows and Sallows. Mature larvae are extremely handsome and often varied in their colouring and pattern.
The pupae, formed underground, are not only rather curious in shape and very rough texture, but they have the extraordinary habit of becoming active at night, particuarly if they are in the light. They wriggle, hiss and jump around and are able to burrow themselves into soil! By day they are totally still and very well camouflaged as ground debris.
Hissing Hawkmoth Phyllosphingia dissimiliis Far East
There are only a few. Very scarce and MOST interesting!
The larvae feed on Walnut Juglans, Alder Alnus, Birch Betula, and is reported to accept Salix Willows and Sallows. Mature larvae are extremely handsome and often varied in their colouring and pattern.
The pupae, formed underground, are not only rather curious in shape and very rough texture, but they have the extraordinary habit of becoming active at night, particuarly if they are in the light. They wriggle, hiss and jump around and are able to burrow themselves into soil! By day they are totally still and very well camouflaged as ground debris.
Poplar Hawkmoth Laothoe populi
Fast growing, the larvae feed on most Willows and Poplars. They do well in sleeves or caged.
This is one of the few hawkmoths that produce two broods of moths in the year.
The larvae become very fat and vary in both the ground colour, in shades of green or blue/green, and in their markings which often include red spots as well as the oblique stripes down the sides.
The larvae need to burrow into compost for pupation.
Lime Hawkmoth Mimas tiliae
THRIVING LARVAE at about HALF PRICE! Limited time offer.
Extremely easy to rear on Lime or Elm. Other reported foodplants include Cherry, Alder, Birch, Oak, Hazel, Acer including Sycamore, Sorbus, Apple, Pear and Ash! In autumn the larvae will grow faster if kept warm.
The larvae do particularly well sleeved on growing foodplant but can be kept in plastic boxes or cages. Beautiful streamlined larvae. Larger larvae are often heavily marked with flame and scarlet spots and blotches. Very variable. They pupate underground. In captivity they will pupate amongst folds of cloth or absorbent tissue. Store pupae refrigerated for the winter. The moths normally emerge in May/June.
Lime Hawkmoth Mimas tiliae
Extremely easy to rear on Lime or Elm. Other reported foodplants include Cherry, Alder, Birch, Oak, Hazel, Acer including Sycamore, Sorbus, Apple, Pear and Ash! In autumn the larvae will grow faster if kept warm.
The larvae do particularly well sleeved on growing foodplant but can be kept in plastic boxes or cages. Beautiful streamlined larvae. Larger larvae are often heavily marked with flame and scarlet spots and blotches. Very variable. They pupate underground. In captivity they will pupate amongst folds of cloth or absorbent tissue. Store pupae refrigerated for the winter. The moths normally emerge in May/June.
Lime Hawkmoth Mimas tiliae
Extremely easy to rear on Lime or Elm. Other reported foodplants include Cherry, Alder, Birch, Oak, Hazel, Acer including Sycamore, Sorbus, Apple, Pear and Ash! In autumn the larvae will grow faster if kept warm.
The larvae do particularly well sleeved on growing foodplant but can be kept in plastic boxes or cages. Beautiful streamlined larvae. Larger larvae are often heavily marked with flame and scarlet spots and blotches. Very variable. They pupate underground. In captivity they will pupate amongst folds of cloth or absorbent tissue. Store pupae refrigerated for the winter. The moths normally emerge in May/June.