BUTTERFLIES and MOTHS - A Golden Guide

When a butte r f l y l a rva i s a l most f u l l g rown, put a st ick i n the ca n or bag to e n co u ra g e t h e l a r v a to form i ts c h rysa l i s on i t . la rge n u m bers o f l a te­ i n sta r l arvae of t h e sa m e species a n d a g e ca n be rea red in b i g freeze r bags conta i n i ng b ra nches of the food p l a nt, a s i l l u strated .

To c l ea n o u t d ro p p i n g s, u nt i e a n d a l low t h e m to fa l l t h rou g h the o pe n i n g .

Large plastic ba g set-up for r�oring la rge n u m bers o f l a r­ many larvae of the same speCies vae ca n be rea red o u t­ doors with l ess ca re by e n c l os i n g t h e m i n a strong net bag p u l led over the e n d of a grow i ng bra nch of a tree or b u s h a n d t i ed sec u re l y fa rther down the bra nch.

Caterp i l l a rs t h a t m a ke cocoons, s u c h a s S i l k Moths a n d T i g e r Moth s, ca n be rea red l i ke those of b utterfl i e s .

Howeve r, the l a rvae o f Reg a l Mot h s a n d most noct u i d s m u st b e g i ve n a few inches o f da m p (not wet) ste r i l e soil or peat moss i nto w h i c h to bu r row w h e n f u l l g row n . The res u l t i n g pu pae ca n be overw i n te red in sea led p l astic sa n d w i c h bags (a long w i th the da m p med i u m ) i n a refr i g erator. Kee p overw i n te r i n g cocoon s a n d ch rysa l ­ i ses outdoors, i n cages t o protect t h e m from predators.

Ad u l ts e m erg i n g fro m p u pae i n the fo l l ow i ng sea so n s m u st b e g i ve n a m p l e roo m for sprea d i n g t h e i r w i ng s a n d a ro u g h surface for c l i m b i ng t o a perc h . Fo r ch rysa l ­ i ses a n d cocoon s o n l y, a scree ned cag e i s n eeded . I t ca n be made fro m a ro l l ed section of w i re scree n i ng or s m a ll­ mesh hard w a re c l oth; u se pa per plates for top a n d botto m .

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