grow your own butterflies

it344x · Post by **it344x** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:56 pm

Hello everybody,
Last year we got a simple kit and 10 Painted Lady caterpillers primarily for our young lads & we watched them all grow up & then let them go.
We now can't find who the supplier was - does anyone know where we can get more from?
It does not have to be painted ladies either - it may be more interesting if we can assist any endangereed varieties too.

many thanks
Martin
( http://www.mgnastro.org )

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:46 pm

Hi Martin,

I suggest you stick with some of the commoner species, since there's quite a debate about the merits of releasing rarities and the potential problems this can cause!

In terms of livestock, you could try Worldwide Butterflies at

http://www.wwb.co.uk

or Butterfly Connections at

http://www.butterflyconnections.co.uk

Cheers,

- Pete

it344x · Post by **it344x** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:28 am

many thanks Pete - we'll check those out.

thanks
Martin
( http://www.mgnastro.org )

it344x · Post by **it344x** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:42 am

Pete,
Interesting - what are the arguments in favour of and opposing rarities ?

regards
Martin
( http://www.mgnastro.org )

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:57 am

Hello Martin
Its been pretty well debated here:
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... c.php?t=43

it344x · Post by **it344x** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:32 pm

Thanks Lance - yes - certainly are some strong opinions on that thread , some based on emotive logic too.

regards
Martin
( http://www.mgnastro.org )

metromartin · Post by **metromartin** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:17 pm

Kind of relevant,
but if you find a food plant and see evidence of feeding, you can often find the reason by looking a bit harder for lava an do regular checks? Or if you see a butterfly flying around foodplant its could be laying eggs so worth looking out for them also?