Basics of larval rearing

[Matsukaze]

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?

[Pete Eeles]

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

Cheers,

- Pete

[chitin]

Hear, Hear, I once had to cull 1000 Monarch larvae in order to get some through. ' cus there ain't none in the countryside

[Dave McCormick]

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.