Table of Contents

Introduction to the English edition 7

Foreword to the first edition 9

Foreword to second edition 11

How to use this Book 12



PART I: BASIC PRINCIPLES



The fundamentals of breeding butterflies and moths 15

   Larval diseases 19

   Parasitism 20

   Hybridization 21



Breeding equipment and techniques 22

   Mating 22

   Oviposition 28

   Larval rearing 30

   Positive live material 43

   Killing techniques 44

   The breeder's diary

   Conservation 47

   Botanical literature 48





PART II: REARING DESCRIPTIONS


Macrolepidoptera: Butterflies (Rhopalocera)
   General remarks on breeding butterflies 49

Hesperioidea
   Hesperiidea (Skippers) 49

Papilionoidae

   Papilionidae (Swallowtails, Apollos and Festoons) 50

   Pieridae (Whites) 52

   Lycaenidae (Hairstreaks, Coppers and Blues) 54

   Nemeobiidae (Duke of Burgundy Fritillary) 54

   Nymphalidae (Purple Emperors, Vanessids and Fritillaries) 60

   Libytheidae (Snout Butterflies) 68

   Satyridea (Browns)68



Macrolepdoptera: Moths (Heterocera - 1)

Hepialoidea

   Hepialidae (Swifts) 71

Cossoidea

   Cossidae (Goat Moths) 71

Zygaenoidea

   Zygaenidae(Burnets and Foresters) 72

Yponomeutoidea (part) (see also p. 152)

   Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths) 75

Bombycoidea

   General remarks on breeding 'bombycids' (including also Drepanidae, Thyatiridae, Notodontidae, Thaumetopoeidae, Lymantriidae and Nolidae) 76

   Lasiocampidae (Eggars, Lackeys, Lappets) 76

   Brahmaediae (Brahmins) 80

   Saturniidae (Emperor Moths) 81

   Lemoniidae 82

   Endromidae (Kentish Glory) 82

Geometroidea

   Drepanidae (Hook-tips) 83

   Thyatiridae (Lutestrings) 83

   Geometridae (Geometers) 83

Sphingoidea

   Sphingidae (Hawk-moths) 101

Notodontoidea

   Notodontoidea (Kittens and Prominents) 108

   Thaumetopoeidea (Processionary Moths) 110

Noctuoidea

   Lymantriidae (Tussock Moths) 111

   Arctiidea (Footmen, Tigers and Ermines) 112

   Ctenuchidae (Handmaids) 119

   Nolidae (Black Arches Moths) 119

   Noctuidae (Owlets) 120



Microlepidoptera: Moths (Heterocera - 2)

   Introduction

Micropterigoidea

   Micropterigidae 145

Eriocranioidea

   Eriocraniidae 145

Nepticuloidea

   Nepticulidae 145

   Opostegidae 147

   Tischeriidae 147

Incurvarioidea

   Incurvariidae 147

   Heliozelidae 147

Tineoidea

   Psychidae (Case-bearers) 148

   Tineidae 149

   OIchsenheimeriidae 150

   Lyonetiidae 150

   Hieroxestidae 150

   Gracellariidae 150

   Phyllocnistidae 152

Yponomeutoidea (part) (see also p. 75)

   Choreutidae 152

   Glyphipterigidae 152

   Douglasiidae 152

   Yponomeutidae 152

   Epermeniidae 153

   Schreckensteiniidae 153

Gelechioidea

   Coleophoridae 153

   Elachistidae 155

   Oecophoridae 155

   Ethmiidae 156

   Gelechiidae 156

   Blastobasidae 157

   Stathmopodidae 157

   Momphidae 157

   Scythrididae 158

Tortricoidea

   Cochylidae 158

   Tortricidae 159

Alucitoidea

   Alucitidae 160

Pyraloidea

   Pyralidae 160

   Thyrididae 161

Pterophoroidea

   Pterophoridae (Plume Moths) 161



References 162

Select bibliography 165

Useful information 166

Index of insect names 167

Index to plant names 174

Reviews

THE working and reference book for all lepidopterists who wish to breed continental butterflies and British and European moths. - P. W. Cribb, Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society The information in this book is very hard to come by and it is invaluable for the amateur butterfly lover, the professional collector and also the biologist using butterflies as a tool ... this volume will be in constant use. - Miriam Rothschild, Biologist I strongly recommend the whole book to any entomologist, conservationist or butterfly farmer who may need to rear Lepidoptera. - Jeremy Thomas, Biological Conservation