Special Offers
Pure Silk hanks These are English reeled 20/22 Denier raw silk hanks produced at the Lullingstone Silk Farm and Worldwide Butterflies.
These fine silk hanks were reeled on the same hand reeling machine, the only one in
The size and weight not standard but the illustration shows a hank picked at random. This is a unique product!
Special temporary promotion price.
NETTING Fine black/grey Nylon 5 metres 150cm wide
Ideal for covering box tops, cages, netting replacement and making sleeves. This soft netting is ideal for making field nets.
Durable, resists tearing and deterioration in UV light. It is fine enough to keep out all but the minutest flies and parasites.
NETTING Fine black/grey Nylon 10 metres 150cm wide
If you are thinking of making a netting structure, cage covering and replacement or making sleeves for rearing larvae, this is the ideal netting.
Durable, resists tearing and deterioration in UV light. It is fine enough to keep out all but the minutest flies and parasites.
NETTING Fine black/grey Nylon 20 metres (2 x 10m) 150cm wide.
Ideal for large structures, flight areas etc.
Use for cage covering or making sleeves for rearing larvae.
Durable, resists tearing and deterioration in UV light. It is fine enough to keep out all but the minutest flies and parasites.
Ordering in 20 metre lots brings the price down very low! 170cm wide.
Swordtail Euritides marcellus North America
Very difficult to obtain now. Dormant pupae to breed in the spring.
Larvae of this magnificent swordtail feed on PawPaw Asminia species and will also accept Soursop Anona species. The larvae are very variable in the density of markings and background colour, ranging from green with no striping to nearly black with dense ringed markings.
The pupa is almost indistinguishable from the European Scarce Swallowtail podalirius.
The adults fly well in a conservatory and breed easily when the foodplant is present.
Marsh Fritillary Eurydryas aurinia
The butterflies fly from May into June. Eggs are laid in large clusters on the underside of Devil’s Bit Scabious.The larvae Feed on Honeysuckle (wild is best), Snowberry or the natural foodplant Devil’s Bit Scabious. The larvae live in a tightly formed web, growing only a little before they hibernate in autumn.
Marsh Fritillary Eurydryas aurinia
The butterflies fly from May into June. Eggs are laid in large clusters on the underside of Devil’s Bit Scabious.The larvae Feed on Honeysuckle (wild is best), Teasel Snowberry or the natural foodplant Devil’s Bit Scabious. The larvae live in a tightly formed web, growing only a little before they hibernate in autumn.
Marsh Fritillary Eurodryas aurinia
SPECIAL PRICE FOR 20 Larvae!
Larvae feed low amongst the leaves of Devil’s Bit Scabioius, but will also eat Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle starts leafing very early in the year, especially where sheltered in woodland. By February it is not diffficult to find enough foodplant to keep caterpillars well fed. In captivity the larvae are recorded as accepting Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata, Teasel Dipsacus and Snowberry Symphoricarpos.
Pre-hibernation larvae might be induced to develop and produce another generation with long day-length and sufficient warmth.
After waking in the spring the larvae grow fast, pupating in April and emerging as butterflies in May.
Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus Europe
Livestock is seldom available. This is a scarce migrant to Britain. The larvae live inside the flowers and seed pods of Broom, Pea, and almost any Leguminosae (Papilionaceae)
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.
Robin Moth Hyalophora cecropia North America
This is a magnificent species with most decorative larvae that are easy to rear, especially when sleeved. The moth will sit on your finger fanning its wings, like a pet! Highly recommended.
Cecropia is famous and has now become very difficult to obtain. We are pleased to be able to offer eggs again this season. Please take advantage of this opportunity because they may not always be available.
A magnificent and very large moth, coloured with scarlet and charcoal. The larvae are most attractive and easily reared with careful hygiene. They do well sleeved outside in good weather. Osier Willow is the plant that succeeds best for us, and many breeders use Cherry.
Reported foodplants: Lilac, Cherry, Pear, Apple, Plum, Alder, Birch, Dogwood, Willows especially Osier Salix viminalis, Elm, Beech, Gooseberry, Poplar.