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Keeping caterpillars/butterflies?

Started By Foogoo , Feb 13 2015 10:06 AM

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5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Foogoo - Posted February 13 2015 - 10:06 AM

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Has anyone done this? I thought it would be pretty neat to watch them pupate then release them, like a pet with a set timeframe (no commitment!). Any particularly easy/difficult/cool species?


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Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta

#2 Offline dean_k - Posted February 13 2015 - 10:11 AM

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Not sure whether you count moth into butterfly category, but you can try waxworm for wax moth.

 

They are fairly easy to culture.


#3 Offline William. T - Posted February 13 2015 - 10:40 AM

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You can keep a Painted Lady. You can buy them online. Neat pets.


Species I keep:

 

1 Lasius cf. Neoniger 30 workers

1 Camponotus sp. 15 workers

20 Tetramorium SpE 30 workers

1 T. Sessile 200 workers

 

#4 Offline LAnt - Posted February 13 2015 - 3:43 PM

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I found a monarch chrysalis maybe 2 months ago and it was quite cool when she hatched.

#5 Offline kellakk - Posted February 13 2015 - 6:14 PM

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I got into keeping silk moths (Saturniidae) last year and tried my hand at Painted Ladies as well.  It's fun, but a lot of work!  The caterpillars need to constantly have fresh food or else they'll dehydrate/starve.  I currently have hundreds of L1 Samia ricini. You can have some if you want, there's too many for me to keep.


Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis

Novomessor cockerelli

Pogonomyrmex montanus

Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Manica bradleyi

 

 

#6 Offline Foogoo - Posted February 13 2015 - 9:07 PM

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I got into keeping silk moths (Saturniidae) last year and tried my hand at Painted Ladies as well.  It's fun, but a lot of work!  The caterpillars need to constantly have fresh food or else they'll dehydrate/starve.  I currently have hundreds of L1 Samia ricini. You can have some if you want, there's too many for me to keep.

 

Thanks, I'll definitely consider it. I was hoping it would be easy along the lines of keeping fruit flies... :rolleyes:


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta

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