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I saved 3 small tortoiseshells from my breed and release programme hoping to over winter them not thinking for a moment they would breed this late. Really surprised when I saw these on the living nettle plant in the greenhouse they are about a week old. I have brought 20 indoors and the rest are feeding on the plant. Not sure if they will have time to grow and pupate before winter sets in any thoughts.
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Hi Chris!

I reckon they have a good chance of making it through to adulthood, especially given the fact that being captive-bred will likely accelerate their development. The quality of the nettles at present is extremely good since their regrowth following the return of the rains, so their food supply should also support their healthy growth. As for predators - it is possible such a late brood may evade the usual life cycles of predatory flies and wasps, but I am no expert in these matters! However, there are lots of hungry spiders around at the moment...

Cheers,

Dave

Update: Kept 6 and 3 survived the spiders first caterpillars 2 weeks ago saved 10 and released the rest. 3 Peacocks also survived and they also laid and hatched last week. The 3 over wintered tortoiseshells have naturally died but 2 of the Peacocks are still with us not bad to say they were borne last Summer. Had a lot of problems with humidity last year so swapped to a double glazed wooden set up this year and so far so good.

This is something that I really want to do, find some local caterpillars and rear them carefully in a home for them like yours Chris and watch them go through their cycle.

I am currently perplexed by the fact that I had really good caterpillar spotting eyes when I was a child. Since I started looking for caterpillars as a grown up child, I don't see any at all.

It follows that I am in awe of everyone on the forum spotting eggs. And being able to identify the species. Actually, I have just had what might be an epiphany moment. Maybe I should follow the ladies to see if they are egg laying.

I imagine in my mind that given enough food and being free from birds and spiders predating them, the conversion rate from caterpillar to butterfly is much enhanced. Is that so?

I imagine in my mind that given enough food and being free from birds and spiders predating them, the conversion rate from caterpillar to butterfly is much enhanced. Is that so?

Indeed true. I have been breeding Orange Tips (usually batches of about ten) for some 50 years (no species could be easier). Egg to butterfly success rate at least 60% and probably much higher.

I avoid premature emergence (which readily happens in breeding programmes) by keeping the pupae in a plastic carton in the fridge from November to early April That way, the adults emerge in perfect synchrony with the wild ones.

Jack

Thank you for the replies for some reason I don't get an email alert when someone replies.

Update...
Poor year all round in north yorks. Plenty of Admirals around but nowhere near as many peacocks and tortoiseshells this year. Plenty of whites and orange tips, meadow browns, speckled woods, gatekeepers. Saved 3 tortoiseshells 3 peacocks 3 comma and for the first seeing more and more red admirals surviving our winters saved 3 of these. The peacocks and tortoiseshells settled into winter early this year in august! had a few warm days and they have made the odd appearance. The admirals and Comma out all september and into October when the sun shone. Going to heat the butterfly house to 5c and hope fingers crossed the admirals may survive.