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Wintering of butterflies

Community and Forum → Insects breeding → Wintering of butterflies

Rafia, 05.08.2008 13:48

I picked up several caterpillars that turned out to be Peacock's Eye. They successfully pupated and hatched, but since I did not organize their branches in time, two butterflies were disabled - they fly only in short flights of one meter. Those with whom everything was fine, I immediately released (after feeding them). Another one, poor thing, got caught by my cat and also became an invalid frown.gif. As a result, I have three butterflies in a 3l bank, I have been feeding them for more than 2 weeks. And now the question!
Do I need to organize a "winter" for them in order to modulate a near-real life cycle? Of course, ideally I would like them to lay eggs, but first of all, I have no idea what gender my beauties are, and secondly, I guess this requires ideal conditions? And-winter quarters?
I would be very grateful if there are knowledgeable people who can advise me!!! mol.gif

Comments

05.08.2008 20:09, RippeR

peacock's eye - daytime? Inachis io?
If so, then they need more space, although this may be enough. Put them a sprig of what the caterpillars develop on, in my opinion nettle, and put it in the sun. They can then mate if the females are both sexes.

Wintering can be arranged on the balcony or in the refrigerator at the onset of cold weather.

05.08.2008 20:38, Rafia

Yes, it's daytime. I carry nettles to them every day (fresh), plus I put twigs for them to crawl on - at night they sleep on them upside down. The only thing is that I pull them out on the table to feed them - because I don't know how to make sure that they don't spill the feeder and don't spoil their wings completely in honey!
But here's what I don't understand-
1. They should mate in the spring, after wintering? If only so, then I need how much (???) there is no time to feed them, and then put them into hibernation. How do we do this without destroying them? And how and when then to bring them out of this state?
2. If they can mate right now, then it's confusing that in a jar in the sun they start to beat against the glass and I keep them covered. In addition, it's cold in St. Petersburg right now frown.gif(I mean, they can probably go into hibernation themselves..)

05.08.2008 21:03, RippeR

Ahhh, I totally forgot. Yes, most likely they mate in the spring. So now you only need to feed them. they can spend the winter on the bubblecone or in the refrigerator. You can just put butterflies on branches in the refrigerator or on the balcony with the onset of famine, they will sit like dead, i.e. they will hang just like when they sleep. I think the temperature in the refrigerator is just right!

Then in the spring, take them out when the nettles start to grow, and plant them on it so that they lay eggs.
There is also an option that they need more space - for example, you can take a canvas or a grid and build a larger cage on the top.

Let's wait for other participants ' opinions.

05.08.2008 21:16, Rafia

Aquarium 20 liters will go? And then I have a bad cat, the cage should be as safe as possible!
And how do I know if it's time for them to go into hibernation? Tonight, one was already dangling like a dead thing on a twig! (It was about 11C)
And the most stupid question, perhaps , is how to determine their gender? shuffle.gif

This post was edited by Rafia-06.08.2008 00: 35

05.08.2008 22:11, Rafia

On the first photo - caterpillars in a jar, on the second-feeding grapes smile.gif

Pictures:
 the image is no longer on the site: DSC03851.JPG DSC03851.JPG — (567.6к) 05.08.2008 — 19.08.2008
 the image is no longer on the site: DSC03945.JPG DSC03945.JPG — (376.9к) 05.08.2008 — 19.08.2008
 the image is no longer on the site: DSC03874.JPG DSC03874.JPG — (738.69к) 05.08.2008 — 19.08.2008
 the image is no longer on the site: DSC03878.JPG DSC03878.JPG — (883.89к) 05.08.2008 — 19.08.2008
Likes: 1

06.08.2008 4:05, Raptor

Yes, with such beauties you need an aquarium and the bigger the better.It's too painful to fly.Arrange the bottom of hops and nettles, equip the corners with sticks for sitting,and for the winter all this richness to start with fresh air and then probably get numb in the morning while it's cold, you can put it in a jar and lower the temperature further manually(I mean with a refrigerator).but I want to warn you that I did not do this and just bring out my thoughts.

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