WINTER PUPAE for breeding in the following season
Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius
Good size, plump and clear colour. Increasingly difficult to obtain. The larvae feed on Blackthorn. Most people find this species difficult to breed but it is a joy to have them emerge at home, and worth trying to breed.
Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes asterias North America
Very closely related to the European and British swallowtails, asterias will often hybridise with either, producing interesting offspring.
The collections of 4 pupae comprise 3 male and a female pupa for breeding.
The larvae feed on Fennel, Carrot tops, and some other Umbelliferae including wild and probably cultivated Parsnip. Two broods are produced in the year and the pupae of the second brood hibernate.
Spicebush Swallowtail Papilio troilus North America
A large swallowtail from the Eastern parts of North America. The larvae, which have wonderful enlarged eye markings, feed on Spicebush Lindera benzoin and Sassafras Sassafras albidum, Camphor Cinnamomum camphora, and Redbay Persea borbonia, perhaps prickly ash Zanthoxylum americanum. In Europe they are bred on Tulip Tree Liriodendron and Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana. Butterflies are produced this year. There are two generations. Store winter pupae refrigerated in a plastic box, until May.
On the back of the thorax on the pupa, there is a curious pattern in the exact image of a butterfly, even with curly antennae!
Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines Europe
Store the pupae in a cool place, for the winter, 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. The male 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 are canabalistic. Not difficult to breed, particularly on potted foodplant. Camouflage in all stages is remarkable.
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!
An established British colony was deliberately exterminated. Why not try again?
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.
Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi
Pupae are hardly every offered. Refrigerate until spring.
The larvae live concealed usually in the flowerhead of the foodplant. It is a good idea to use potted foodplant or sleeve the larvae. They feed on Trefoils, Broom, Gorse and many Leguminosae. Also on Dogwood, Buckthorn, Bramble and Rock Rose.
Eyed Hawk Smerinthus ocellata
These pupae will produce moths this year. Pairings extremely easy. Larvae feed on Apple, Willows and Sallows. The larvae do best on living foodplant because these plants do not last well in water. Very attractive larvae, highly camouflaged with silvery markings on green, and very streamlined. Single brooded. The moth has beautiful hindwings which it flashes if disturbed. Huge eyespots brightly coloured with magenta and blue. Highly recommended.
Additional reported foodplants: Poplars, Blackthorn, Lime, Privet, Alder, Birch, Plum, Blackthorn, some Viburnums, Various Prunus, Laurel.
Lime Hawkmoth Mimas tiliae
Some excellent forms of pattern and colour are appearing from these pupae, including one-spot, banded and brick red forms, as well as a wide colour range of normal pattern. There is no way of detecting these in the early stages, but we are illustrating some of these extreme forms that have been emerging.
Store pupae refrigerated for the winter. The moths normally emerge in May/June.
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.
Privet Hawk Sphinx ligustri
One of the largest Hawkmoths. These will produce adults this year, or you can keep them cool for breeding next year.
The caterpillar becomes enormous and is characteristic of the name Sphinx moths, by its sphinx-like resting position. Adults emerge in June and July. They need nectar from the flowers of Privet, Valerian, Buddleia.
Larval foodplants: Privet, Lilac, Ash, also reportedly Spiraea, Viburnum opulus, and other Viburnums, Holly, Dogwood, Snowberry, Apple, Pear, Oleander, Leycesteria, Currant.
One generation in the year. Privet Hawks breed readily in a large cage with nectar and foodplant.
Pine Hawk Hyloicus pinastri
Moths emerge in June/July from pupae stored cool for the winter. Provide nectar for the adults, and sprigs of pine for the moths to lay on. The moth is patterned in shades of grey, with black streaks. A rarity in Britain.
Willowherb Hawkmoth Proserpinus proserpina
SCARCE! Only a few pupae available.
This rather rare Hawkmoth is a gem, seldom encountered, though it lives throughout much of western and central Europe, eastwards into Russia.
The larva is rather like a grey form of Small Elephant Hawk. The foodplant is Rosebay Willowherb Epilobium, Evening Primrose Oenothera and Purple Loosetrife Lythrum. The pretty little green moth has prominent egg-yolk coloured hindwings. The normal flight period is June and July.
Elephant Hawk Dielephila elpenor
Store winter pupae refrigerated in a plastic box. In the emerging cage it is important to have the pupae moist but well drained. Please see the Pupae Nest on this website. The moths usually emerge in June and July.
Cage the moths with nectar flowers and springs of Willowherb – you do not see the pairings but fertile eggs are easily obtained.
An exceptionally pretty moth with amazing and characterful larvae, with eye-spots and probing “trunks”. Young larvae are green, later changing to charcoal black, with occasional rarities remaining green.
Larvae feed on Willowherbs, Fuschia, Creepers.
Highly recommended.
