Hobbies And Interests
Male and Female Butterflies
Butterflies cannot reproduce parthenogenetically. Butterflies cannot be in-bred after a couple of generations, as the resultant offspring become weak and small. Further, they lose their ability to reproduce. This is the drawback of using just a single pair for artificial breeding. Hence, breeders of butterflies have to breed male and female butterflies that come from different parents.
Mating
Butterflies mate by joining the ends of their abdomens. The butterflies face away from one another. The male transfers sperm into the female. Later, as the eggs pass through the egg laying tube, they get fertilized by the sperm. Generally, the male dies after mating.
Laying Eggs
Once mating finishes, the female looks for an appropriate place to the lay the eggs. In the wild, the female butterfly lays the eggs on leaves that caterpillars will eat on hatching. Hence, placing these leaves in enclosures will facilitate the egg-laying process. If leaves are not provided, the female may lay the eggs anywhere in the enclosure. Let the eggs dry before removing them. This can take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours. Remove the leaves on which you see the eggs, and place them in a well-ventilated box. Line the box with tissue paper. Keep misting the eggs to maintain humidity in the box, but make sure that the ventilation prevents mold formation. Maintain the temperature of the box based on the species of butterfly you are breeding.
Caterpillars
Newborn caterpillars are small and delicate at birth. Avoid touching them with your fingers, as it could kill them. Instead, use a light brush to gently transfer them from the hatching box to a different enclosure where you intend raising them. It is preferable to keep all caterpillars of the same age together. Make sure that the raising enclosure is ventilated and has high humidity levels. Place a tissue at the bottom of the enclosure to soak up the water from the droppings.
Feeding Caterpillars
Caterpillars require a lot of food. Based on the species, supply the necessary leaves. If a particular species eats a variety of plants, keep leaves from all the plants in the enclosure. Place the leaves in a shallow tray and spray them with water. This will keep them fresh for a week. You can lay the leaves on the floor of the enclosure, but these will dry out fast and will need replacement frequently. Caterpillars need moisture to keep their skin moist as well as to drink. They get their water needs from moist leaves. So, wash the leaves in clean, fresh water before placing them in the enclosure. Clean the enclosure daily to remove droppings to avoid bacterial and mold growths.
Butterfly Pupae
The caterpillars look for a suitable place to pupate. If you find a cocoon in the raising enclosure, remove it carefully and place it in a dry enclosure by hanging it on a string. Use a needle and thread at the pointed end of the cocoon and then hang them. Make sure not to injure the pupa inside. The enclosure for the cocoons should be twice as big as the wingspan of the butterfly in all directions.
Adult Butterflies
Butterflies that emerge from the pupae can be set free in the wild, kept as pets or sold commercially. Before releasing or selling the butterflies, check with the local USDA office about the rules and laws on release and interstate import. Generally, butterflies that are not native to an area cannot be released into the wild.