Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know if there are any people out there selling butterfly larvae other than the painted ladys, and monarchs?

Thanks,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Where all have you looked? Some of the biological and educational companies may offer more. May I ask what you are looking for and why? Is this for your own knowledge and experience? school? kids? collection? Where do you live? Are you only interested in butterflies or moths, too? Have you tried to collect on your own and raise one or two that way?

lele

>>Anyone know if there are any people out there selling butterfly larvae other than the painted ladys, and monarchs?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Andrew

This is for my own knowledge and experience. I collected some pipevine swallotail larvae year before last, and got them to butterflys, but I was unable to get them to breed.

Specifically, I am looking for spicebush swalltotail(these guys are awesome), or tiger swallotail. I have looked all around the net, and have found several places that sell hornworms, painted ladys, and monarchs. Not what Im looking for though.
I really like raising caterpillars, and other little larvae to their adult form.
I live in northern california.

You may want to search some places in southern California. I've heard the giant swallowtails like citrus. I'm like you. I want to find more sources for native and exotic LIVE lepidoptera eggs, larvae or pupae. I've raised parsley worms or dillworms before. They become black swallowtails. You need sassafras to feed spicebush larvae. Tigers will eat ash. I currently have 2 tobacco hornworms, but am always looking for more sphingids. I also want any saturniids I can get.

I found this website that sells all kinds of silkworms. They are located in the UK, but they ship to the US.
http://www.silkworm-supplies.co.uk/

-Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Silkworms (Family Bombycidae), are usually sold as feeder insects for reptiles, lizards and other animals. They are also sold for educational purposes to teachers and schools. These are the moths that silk used in clothing is obtained. Unfortunately, the only way they can get a full single strand of silk is to boil the cocoons, with the pupa still in it, to kill the larva and then unwind the silk. Once the adult moth emerges, the silk strand is broken and is not as useable. They have been cultivated for centuries (originally in Asia) and are now rendered flightless. There are lots of places here in the states that sell them in all life stages from egg to adult so if you are looking for any you'd be better off getting them locally (save on shipping if nothing else ).

Silk moths (Family Saturniidae) also produce silk but it is rarely used except among specialists (there is a woman who I send most of my empty cocoons to and she creates a variety of items). They too are available for sale from a few people here in the states, so again, if you are looking you can stay close to home.

My second cecropia of the season is wandering and ready to spin - it weighs 14g and 5" long. Her body is about 3/4" diameter! I am sure it will be a female due to her size - I'll know next summer

lele