When a beautiful butterfly develops from an ugly caterpillar, the astonishment is great. In nature, we rarely witness this transformation. Always experience one or the other. But if you breed this noble butterfly at home, you will experience the fascinating game of metamorphosis up close.
The transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly is fascinating
Time to start breeding
If the profile of the peacock butterfly convinces you the most and your choice falls on this noble butterfly, you will have to wait until the right time. After hibernation, the eggs are laid first, and then its caterpillars develop in May and June.
Where do you get the caterpillars?
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. For this he chooses the underside of the nettle leaves, which the caterpillars use as food.
The caterpillars are black with white spots except on the head. They also have black thorns. With these features, they are easy to recognize. But collecting the caterpillars in the wild is tricky. The peacock butterfly is currently not one of the protected species, but you 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).
build a nest
- Obtain a transparent plastic or glass container with a volume of at least 1 liter. The space will be enough for three caterpillars.
- Line the container with a damp handkerchief or kitchen roll.
- After that, put in some sprigs of stinging nettles. They should stand with their stems in a water vessel with the opening well sealed. That way the caterpillars don't fall into the water.
- Place the caterpillars in the box.
- Cover the transparent vessel with a fine-meshed fabric that still lets air through.
tips
A piece of an old curtain or a fine stump works well to cover the container.
Choose a suitable location
The breeding box can be outside or inside the house. On the balcony and in the garden, the spectacle is closer to nature. But a bright window sill is also suitable. Just make sure that the container does not get direct sunlight. This would quickly lead to temperatures above 50 °C and kill the caterpillars.
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 on a piece of branch. Spray cocoons and pupae regularly with water to prevent dehydration. Wait patiently for the peacock butterfly to hatch under its own power.