Hi All,
I have never tried rearing butterflies or moths before, but have a couple of dozen White Ermine eggs laid by a moth taken at light a week or so ago.
How do I go about rearing them? What sort of container should I keep them in, should I keep the container indoors or outdoors, how much foodplant should I keep there?
Basics of larval rearing
- Pete Eeles
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In terms of "basics" - for native species I'd always recommend growing foodplant, situated outdoors. Depending on the species, either in sun, shade or mixed light.
I tend to put netting over a plant pot (with the foodplant in).
If that's not possible, then I use the "sleeving" method.
Another "basic" - is that you should only rear what you can support - so it's often a case of reducing the amount of livestock rather than increasing the amount of foodplant![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Cheers,
- Pete
I tend to put netting over a plant pot (with the foodplant in).
If that's not possible, then I use the "sleeving" method.
Another "basic" - is that you should only rear what you can support - so it's often a case of reducing the amount of livestock rather than increasing the amount of foodplant
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Basics of larval rearing
Hear, Hear, I once had to cull 1000 Monarch larvae in order to get some through. ' cus there ain't none in the countryside ![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
- Dave McCormick
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- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
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Re: Basics of larval rearing
Well two years ago I reared 2000+ White Ermine caterpillars to adult as the glasshouses they were in nearby were getting pulled down, and around 95% of them survived. My garden was white with the moths flying about after the adults hatched. Well I fed those on fairy toadflax which is abundant here, especially on and around the old walls.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
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My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro