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I thought I'd post this here, not exactly sure where to post it. I have built a breeding "cage" a while ago:



Now its indoors and its always around 20 degrees C tempreture in it (or around). I want to use it to breed one species, only big enough for one at a time. Its 6ft tall by about 5 feet wide or more. The things in it are just in there for now and I can remove them.

Its not over bright in it, but has enough light. I was wanting to know, before I put anything into it, how to get it "suited" for the adult butterflies I wish to breed in it. I am starting simple and I am going to breed some butterflies that feed on grass, and first, Speckled Woods. Any ideas what I should do?

Hi Dave - there are a few contrdications in your post, so let me explain:

1. "Its not over bright in it, but has enough light".
How do you know? What species are you thinking of?

2. "I was wanting to know, before I put anything into it, how to get it "suited" for the adult butterflies I wish to breed in it".
Well - that depends on the species!

3. "I am going to breed some butterflies that feed on grass, and first, Speckled Woods. Any ideas what I should do?"
Yes - put the cage outside.

My general philosophy is to keep things as natural as possible. A lot of people think they're being kind by keeping things indoors, but this is probably one of the worst things you can do - since larvae and adults will "dry out". Just take a look at the dew on the ground on a midsummer's morning, and you'll see what I mean! Larvae, in particular, like a lot of moisture, in general!

Having said all of that, I think that starting with a common species is definitely the best way. I've been breeding butterflies for over 30 years, on and off, and there's a lot of skills in rearing some of the rarer species! Also - I never take anything but the commoner species from the wild - mainly to ensure a better success for (for example) Red Admiral or Comma than they would in the wild. All adults get released.

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks for the tips. I have a room in our hosue that has similar tempretures as outside anyway and is bright when sunlight gets into it. I am going to move it in there, plus its bigger room.

I had an idea of putting a layer of Turf (grass) on bottom and I'll keep it moist, pray it thourgh with water every so often ( I understand about the moisture), I would put this outside, but I don't really have anywhere to.

And the species I wanted to breed are: Speckled Wood, Wall, Red Admiral and Commas at moment. I would never take anything but commoner species from wild either, only a few anyway. Starting with grass feeding species like those should not be too difficult, I raised a few speckled woods last year from caterpillars I found on my lawn before it was mowed.

Can you get 'homegrown' native species via mailorder? What's the attitude to releasing these into the wild? I saw timelapse video on YouTube of caterpillars feeding on some manmade cultured media in a jar - all seemed to work ok - although hardly natural/nice for the caterpillars. i used to keep Emporer moths harvested from local Bramble and also, supplies from my biology teacher who lived in another county. I always felt it helped improve the genepool when I released them. I've just not seen them on Brable in years. I've also grown more exotic species of moth like Atlas and Indian moon, plus hawkmoths (Privet/Eyed/Poplar). never kept butterlfies - but im thinking of trying next year as my 9 y/o son is curious about metamorphosis and it would be good to show him. Hawk moths are good for this - fascinating watching mature caterpillars walking around in circles on top of the oldfashioned deep plastic icecream containers full of peat and then suddenly buryingthemselves to pupate. One thing I do rememebr well though is that caterpillars are very very prone to viral infections - so plant foods need rinsing well and lots of good fresh ventillation is needed. I recall looking at my caterpillars suddenly stopping walking on foodplant brances then turning into hanging black liquid filled sacks. Disgusting, and virus then spreads rapidly to others.

Mark

Hi Mark - this is a very emotive subject, but this is *my* opinion!

"Can you get 'homegrown' native species via mailorder?"
Yes - there are some organisations that will supply stock via mailorder. Just look on the links page (e.g. Worldwide Butterflies).

"What's the attitude to releasing these into the wild?"
Now you're already on dangerous ground because you don't know where they came from! However, in general, I would say that it's OK to release common and widespread species that already occur in the UK.

One other thing to bear in mind is what you'll do with the resulting adults if you choose either rare or exotic species - which may not be a good lesson for children when you tell them these butterflies can't be released. My 2p.

Cheers,

- Pete

"Can you get 'homegrown' native species via mailorder?"

Yes, like Pete said, Worldwide Butterflies, but you have to question where the stock was taken, was it bread or was it taken from wild?

"What's the attitude to releasing these into the wild?"

Well, I would not do so, unless fiven athourity from BC and I knew that it would be ok to release the species (no harm from it being a wrong subspecies or causing more predators to appear as a result of releasing them etc...)

Also, I think this might be OK, but if you did get the livestock from worldwide butterflies, maybe they would oblige to take pupae or whatever back if you don't want them anymore. I have not done this or asked them, but I am sure they would oblige.

I started easy with rearing a few Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock last year, with a good success only 1 died and I got 16 peacocks and 20 Small Tortoiseshell. But if you think about taking caterpillars from wild, you hae to thinka bout what your doing. "Is it a rare species?" If so, I would strongly recommend not taking it, unless it was under threat in some way (removal of its foodplant or bulding work planned for that area and it cannot survive there anymore etc..)and you could rear it to adult hood. "How many should I take" If the species is common and not under threat and will survive in the area you got it from, take only a few caterpillars (Vanessids like small tortoiseshell, red admiral) are easiest as they are easy to breed and are found quite a lot. But, if you do take caterpillars from wild, always be sure, if its ok form them to survive there, to return them to where you got them and not into an area they don't exist or have not before. Reintroductions should only in my opinion be carried out by BC and with their aid as not to screw up reports, predator numbers etc..

I have some speckled wood I am breeding currently. What would be the best thing to feed the adults with? I should have adults in a couple of weeks or so and would like to know what to do before then. Thanks in advance