Magic of Life - Butterfly House
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​MAGIC OF LIFE

BUTTERFLY HOUSE | ABERYSTWYTH

Breeding Butterflies

While we rely on imported farmed pupae from the Tropics, we have always had an active breeding program to boost the numbers.

Some of the specialist host plants takes years to source and then another two or three years before we have them big enough to try and breed something on them. If successful, that first test might breed five or six caterpillars on a plant before we run out of leaves, the adult butterflies of which then last just a few weeks and about ten percent fly at any one time.  This is why butterfly houses are expensive.

It then can take another two or three years to multiply the host plants up so we can produce enough to make an impact in the display each month. 

​Even with enough food plants, our breeding programs are constantly hampered by ants, spiders, fungi and viruses all attacking and destroying many of our caterpillars.  Breeding butterflies is a Sisyphean task!
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Picture
Scarlet Anartia – our caterpillar food plant experiments found that this one will breed on plantain
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Sara Longwing - breeds on passiflora auriculata and just a few other passion vines
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Giant Atlas Moths - we recently found that these breed through on Gunnera
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Tree Nymph - A fussy eater on Parsonsia only
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Picture
Picture
Home
History
Staff
The butterfly symbol
​Other animals
The garden
What we do
The Butterflies
Insects and others
Location and prices
Schools and groups
Rheidol Valley
Local attractions
Changing attitudes
Breeding giant beetles
Coral
Breeding butterflies
The Birdwing - Troidini project
​Resources
Contact us
The Magic of Life Trust is a Registered Charity No 1159917
The Magic of Life Butterfly House
CwmRheidol
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
Wales
SY23 3NB

Tel 01970 880928
​
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  • Home
  • VISITOR INFO
    • Location and prices
    • Schools and groups
    • Rheidol Valley
    • Local attractions
  • Magic of Life - The Trust
    • What we do
    • Animal and Plant Collections
    • The Butterfiles
    • Insects and Others
    • The Garden
    • The Butterfly Symbol
    • History
    • Staff
  • Conservation
    • Resources
    • The Birdwing - Troidini Project
    • Changing attitudes
    • Breeding giant beetles
    • Coral Collections
    • Breeding butterflies
  • Contact us
  • Tropical Butterflies