Live Butterfly House

[Denise]

My attention was drawn to this item by a posting on UK leps.
Salisbury's are advertising this item in their Christmas booklet under activity toys.

Natural History Museum Gift, Live Butterfly House.
Watch them grow from tiny caterpillars then let them go.

On the box it shows a hanging net with the BC logo next to it.
It says; butterflies range in size from a tiny 3mm to a huge almost 30cm.

Is this a good thing or not?
I know that it would really spark some enthusiasm in youngsters, (me included ) but what butterflies would be included?
Is it ok to release butterflies from who knows where into a local population?
What butterfly is almost 30cm? I am wondering if they could be foreign butterflies, and if so, why has BC endorsed it?
Can they really box up eggs, and sell them in a supermarket like this? I wonder what the survival rate would be.
Any thoughts?

Denise

[m_galathea]

Just done a quick google search

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSear ... 62489.html

- looks like you send away for five Painted Ladys essentially. Defo a good thing to get kids interested in natural history I reckon.

The largest butterflies in the world (30cm wingspan as you say) are of the genus Ornithoptera, the largest being O. alexandrae.

AH

[Denise]

Hi Alexander,

The box is different from the one in Sainsbury's, but essentially the same kit.
I'm going to get two, one for my nephew, who loves wildlife, and one for me!

Denise

[Gruditch]

Me too, 2009 could be a good Painted Lady year.

Gruditch

[Denise]

I have just been looking on the web, and lots of companies sell these kits.
m_galathea was right. You purchase the net and get a voucher to send off for the larvae. Poor things have to go through Royal Mail!
It looks like the same kit being sold every where, which is for 5 Painted Ladies.
The prices range from £15 (3 for 2 offer) at Sainsbury's to £20 (buy 1 get 1 half price) at WH Smiths.
I know that it's aimed at getting children interested in butterflies, but I'm really looking forward to growing my own
I was wondering where to start after seeing some of the fantastic images posted by Pete and Paul K.
Thanks guys for giving me the motivation.

Cheers
Denise