SPRING and SUMMER EGGS and LARVAE Order now for supply in season
The Belted Beauty Lycia zonaria
Eggs and larvae have never been offered before. Emerald green eggs are laid in large egg batches. A whole batch of not less than 50 eggs is amazing value, and provides enough larvae to experiment with different foodplants and rearing methods. We advocate using growing foodplant when possible, and sleeving the whole pot of food.
In Britain this species is very rare indeed, and protected. Found in only about 3 localities on sandy nutrient-poor grassland or dunes. Very scarce in Holland, where it occurs in similar coastal areas. Our stock comes from central Europe, where it is sometimes found on dry limestone slopes where the vegetation is sparse.
The larvae feed on a variety of plants and you may be amongst those who discover new foodplants.
Eggs are laid in batches particularly on grasses where they can be tucked into pockets and hollow stems. The larvae feed on a variety of vegetation - possibly almost anything that is growing amongst the grasses. They appear to like a variety of foodplants and are recorded as feeding on Dandelion, Dock, Cow Parsley, Clovers, Kidney Vetch, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Yarrow, Creeping Willows and Sallows, Hawthorn, Coltsfoot, Plantains, Burnet Rose and even Flag Iris. The larva, starting black with prominent white spots, becomes medium green, well camouflaged colour, but with a prominent lemon yellow lateral stripe. This is a Geometer - looper caterpillar.
This is one of the few moths that has a wingless female. The female rests sometimes prominently where they more easily attract males, which fly by day and by night.
The pupa is formed only a little below the ground surface, where it spends the winter. Store winter pupae in a closed plastic box, very cool or refrigerated. To avoid desiccation don't leave in open air. In the emerging cage, keep moist at all times. See the Pupae Nest on this website. Emergence starts in the very early spring.
This is an opportunity not to be missed, to breed a very rare species and see its life history at first hand.
Small Eggar Moth Eriogaster lanestris 20 larvae
The moths emerge in March/April. Because of modern practice of hedge management, this once common species is nowadays a rare find. Tight clipping of hedges destroys the habitat and undoubtedly the eggs and larvae.
Egg clusters are laid in batches on branches of the foodplant Blackthorn Prunus spinosa or Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. The larvae cluster, and even large larvae live within, and on the outsite of a prominent white tent of silk, very often at the end of a branch, with no attempt at concealment. It is likely that the larvae in captivity could be reared on Apple and Plum, though we have not tried these.
Don't be tempted to handle the larvae. They have short, decorative hairs, which easily come away and penetrate the skin, like short cactus prickles, and this gives rise to intense irritation. No doubt this is why the larvae can afford to display themselves in the wild so openly. No predator will try to eat them once they learn, and the larvae are patterned in warning colours to advertise the danger.
To pupate, the larvae descend to form a tight cocoon with a smooth shell-like a nut, in concealed leaf litter or moss, where they spend the winter.
This is a very interesting species to rear and observe. You might help to spread the species locally if you can find thorn hedges that are not regularly trimmed.
Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia
Britain’s only Silkmoth. The male and female have similar markings, but the female is larger, and the male is more brightly coloured. The Emperor Moth occurs in many rural areas but is particularly found on heaths, where they breed on Heathers. Eggs are laid in clusters on the heather, looking just like the dead flowerheads from last year.
The larvae feed on a variety of plants, including Bramble, Raspberry, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Apple, Plum, Blackthorn, Oak, Hornbeam, Birch, Heathers and Heaths, Blueberry, Meadowsweet, Wild Rose, Sea Buckthorn, Purple Loosestrife, Willows especially Osier Salix viminalis, Pussy Willow (Sallow).
The caterpillars cluster in the early instars, eventually spreading out and becoming brightly coloured, as beautiful as such exotics as the Indian Moon Moth. The cocoon is spun in the foodplant. This is the stage that passes the winter. An interesting construction with a neck and open end, through which the adult emerges in spring. This is one of the fun species to rear.
Store cocoons in a cupboard until November. Then keep refrigerated until mid- February when they can be put in the emerging cage ready for hatching in March.
Ligurian Emperor Saturnia pavoniella
Although similar to our Emperor Moth pavonia, pavoniella is slightly larger and, in the male, has a much paler band on the hindwing inner margin. There are other differences in appearance and the intensity of pattern, particularly in the male.
Large larvae are quite distinct from those of pavonia. Foodplants are the same as for pavonia and include Apple, Plum, Blackthorn, Bramble, Hawthorn, Heather, WIllow, Birch, and many others. Pavoniella females pair several times (pavonia only once). Progeny of hybrids of pavonia with pavoniella are infertile, which indicates that pavoniella is a true species. Pavoniella is found in central Europe, extending south to Greece and for some distance into Turkey and well into Asia Minor.
Giant Peacock Moth Saturnia pyri
Europe's largest Moth! Larvae sleeved outside do well except in constant wet and cold weather. The large larva, with its apple green colouring and colourful spikey tubercles, is as handsome as the tropical Moon Moths.
The natural foodplants are Blackthorn and Hawthorn but they will often accept fruit trees such a Plum and Apple. Cocoons spun in summer produce moths in the following spring.
Tau Emperor Moth Aglia tau 15 eggs
This European Silkmoth flies in early spring and is one of the Silkmoths (Saturniidae).
The young larvae are adorned with antlers, as impressive as the American Hicory Horned Devils! Foodplants include Lime, Oak, Birch, Hawthorn, and other trees and shrubs. Single brooded. Rearing in sleeves is very successful. The larvae pupate amongst litter on the ground.
Very easy to breed: lay the pupae out in February for March/April emergence. The moths fly and pair by day, and particularly appreciate sunshine. Eggs are laid on the cage sides.
Highly recommended.
CEBALLOSI subspecies of Graellsia isabellae. Bustillo and Rubio 1974
This subspecies first officially recognised and described in 1974, is appreciably larger than the nominate form, and other subspecies. We have never had the opportunity to list isabellae ceballosi before and this is an opportunity not to be missed by the specialist breeder.
Ssp ceballosi is found in the north of Andalucia in Sierras de Segura and Cazoria, in South East Spain. As well as being measurably larger, the eye-spots, bands and other markings are more clearly defined.
Foodplants, as with isabellae isabellae, Pines, including Scotts Pinus sylvestris.
Spanish Moon Moth Graellsia isabellae
One of the rarest and most coveted species we list. The moth and larva are as exotic as any tropical species.
Foodplant Pine. The larvae change dramatically as they grow, starting with a precise imitation of pine twigs, amongst which they rest by day, then changing to patterns of green, black and white as they venture amongst the foliage. Finally they take on an intricate pattern, adding red to a criptic camouflage that renders them almost impossible to spot against the light in the pine forest. The larvae make a cocoon amongst mosses and leaf litter on the ground.
This is a delicate species that often does best sleeved out of doors, as long as the weather is good. They are used to a warm Spanish climate. Orders are supplied in strict rotation. It pays to order early to be high up the list.
American Moon Moth Actias luna North America
A very attractive Moon Moth that is double brooded and is very easy to rear. Larvae of the first brood produce moths this year.
The larvae feed on Walnut, and have been recorded as accepting Liquidambar, Birch, Plane, Maples, Aspen, Plum, Sallow, Osier Willow and several kinds of Oak. We have excellent results with Walnut and Osier.
Store autumn cocoons cool, even in a fridge from December onwards. In April they can be incubated for emergence in May.
Giant Atlas Moth Attacus atlas
One of the largest of all moth species in the world! The larvae feed well on Privet, at any time of the year, and might accept Portuguese Laurel. They require very clean conditions, always with fresh food. Alternative recorded foodplants include Willows, Lilac, Apple, Plum, Ash, Cherry and Tree of Heaven Ailanthus. Atlas larvae like to browse on several foodplants and settle for the one or more that they like.
The larvae like warmth 25 -30 degrees C and humid jungle conditions, which are best achieved in a tank or plastic container, rather than a netting cage. Given these conditions the larvae are not difficult to rear, and spin cocoons in about 8 weeks from hatching.
Antheraea yamamai Japan and Central Europe
A rewarding and easy species to rear in spring. The eggs are stored cool for the winter. Bring them into room temperature when the buds open, and the larvae hatch in a couple of weeks or so.
The caterpillar, a close relative of Antheraea pernyi, the Chinese Oak Silkmoth, grows very large. It has a green face and more interestingly, it spins a wonderful egg-shaped cocoon of BRIGHT GREEN silk. Very easy to rear on Oak. The larvae sometime take leaves of other trees and shrubs. Hawthorn is a early substitute for Oak. The pupa is spun in summer and does not emerge until well into autumn. Eggs laid in summer, are dormant through winter; they can be refrigerated, and hatch when the buds open in spring.
The female moth may be a bright canary yellow, with large ringed eye-spots, one in the centre of each wing. Colouring, especially in the male, is rather varied. Both sexes are illustrated with quite different colour forms.
Bullseye Moth Automeris io North America
Eggs and Larvae of the Bullseye Moth are not available every year. This small silkmoth has a number of interesting characteristics.
The male and female are distinctly different colours – both have the enormous eye markings on the hindwings which are exposed when the moth is disturbed.
The larvae are covered by branched spines – don’t touch them – they sting like a nettle! They are gregarious until the larvae are quite large, changing colour at each skin change.
For pairing, keep the moths in a cage the size of the Pyjama Mini Cage. Fertile eggs develop a black dot which is the micropyle, through which the embryo breathes. A useful indicator of fertility, not present in most other species.
The larvae are polyphagous, ie they will accept a wide variety of foodplants, which include such trees as Oak, Lime, Willow, Hazel, Bramble, Apple, Hawthorn and more.