When an ugly caterpillar develops into a beautiful butterfly, you are amazed. We rarely witness this transformation in nature. Always only experience one thing or the other. But if you breed this noble butterfly at home, you will experience the fascinating game of metamorphosis up close.
How can I breed a peacock butterfly at home?
To breed a peacock butterfly at home, you need caterpillars, a transparent container, wet cloths, nettle twigs and a fine-mesh covering fabric. Provide adequate nutrition, moist conditions, and protection from direct sun during metamorphosis.
Time to start breeding
If you are most impressed by the profile of the peacock butterfly and therefore choose this noble butterfly, you have to be patient until the right time is right. After overwintering, the eggs are first laid, and then the caterpillars develop in May and June.
Where do the caterpillars come from?
The peacock butterfly also has its habitat in our latitudes. During its two-year lifespan, it will lay 50 to 200 greenish-colored eggs once or twice a year, depending on the weather. To do this, he chooses the undersides of the nettle leaves, which serve as food for the caterpillars.
The caterpillars are black with white spots except on the head. They also have black thorns. These features make them easy to recognize. But collecting the caterpillars in the wild is tricky. The peacock butterfly is currently not a protected species, but you will have more security if you choose other sources of supply.
- buy from a butterfly breeder
- Ask the Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND)
Building a nest
- Get a transparent plastic or glass container with at least 1 liter volume. There will be enough space for three caterpillars.
- Line the container with a damp tissue or paper towel.
- Then add a few sprigs of nettles. They should stand with their stems in a container of water with a well-sealed opening. This way the caterpillars don't fall into the water.
- Put the caterpillars in the box.
- Cover the transparent container with a fine-mesh fabric that still allows air to pass through.
Tip
A piece of an old curtain or a fine stump is suitable for covering the vessel.
Choose a suitable location
The breeding box can be outside or in the house. On the balcony and in the garden the spectacle is more natural. But a bright window sill is also suitable. Just be sure to make sure the container doesn't get direct sun. This would quickly lead to heating above 50 °C and cause the caterpillars to die.
The caterpillars will eat diligently and shed their skin every 5-10 days. When fully grown, they are no longer hungry and pupate on the wall of the container or a piece of branch. Spray cocoons and pupae regularly with water to prevent drying out. Wait patiently until the peacock butterfly hatches on its own.
