Butterflies?

[absolutbill]

I've been thinking about using my extra screen cage to raise some butterflies or other flying insects for my 2 chams. Can anyone point me in the right direction of where to start? I don't want to end up with too many critters in case my boys don't like them, and one of my guys is only 4 months old, so ideally I'd like something that he could eat the larval state of, or something that hatches small and then grows so he could eat the young ones, and my 4 year old panther could eat the full grown ones. Also, since I'm in Florida I'd like to be able to keep this project on the screened lanai, not inside the house. If anyone has any experience I'd love to hear from them. Thanks!

Michelle

 

[coldbloodedAL]

I've been thinking about using my extra screen cage to raise some butterflies or other flying insects for my 2 chams. Can anyone point me in the right direction of where to start? I don't want to end up with too many critters in case my boys don't like them, and one of my guys is only 4 months old, so ideally I'd like something that he could eat the larval state of, or something that hatches small and then grows so he could eat the young ones, and my 4 year old panther could eat the full grown ones. Also, since I'm in Florida I'd like to be able to keep this project on the screened lanai, not inside the house. If anyone has any experience I'd love to hear from them. Thanks!

Michelle

Hornworms/ hawkmoths would be a good one! A member recently did it using a screened cage. Do a search for it that should help with the details

 

[Solid Snake]

Or maybe silk worms. Butterflies are difficult I believe, and they can be toxic. Bees, do BEES!!! Thats what I want to do

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Or maybe silk worms. Butterflies are difficult I believe, and they can be toxic. Bees, do BEES!!! Thats what I want to do

It would be interesting, many ppl fear their chams will get stung. BUT carpenter bees would be an excellent choice, males dont have stingers and females do but REALLY have to be provoked to do so. They are also some of the largest/meatiest and i see them with loads of pollen very often

 

[Solid Snake]

I actually would not worry about them being stung at all. Me maybe, but not them. I think my issue would be feeding them to my panther, as he free ranges, and I dont want bees loose in my house Ill look into the carpenter bees, I wouldnt mind harvesting honey either

 

[absolutbill]

Thanks to all of you. Neither Cham seems to like silkworms or hornworms, so I was hoping for something that flies to attract their attention. Not too sure about raising bees, though . I know that a sponsor on here sells butterfly cocoons and I didn't know if anyone had experience with that. I know many butterflies can be toxic - does anyone have a link to safe ones? Thanks again everyone!

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Thanks to all of you. Neither Cham seems to like silkworms or hornworms, so I was hoping for something that flies to attract their attention. Not too sure about raising bees, though . I know that a sponsor on here sells butterfly cocoons and I didn't know if anyone had experience with that. I know many butterflies can be toxic - does anyone have a link to safe ones? Thanks again everyone!

I know painted ladies are safe for sure, dont know of any others tho

 

[Beachbabies]

painted ladies would be awesome! i think pssh has them, if not you might have to go through insect lore. we wnet to their faciltiy, they breed the butterflies in screen cham cages! you just need to get ahold of the host plant for the cats.

 

[Whatcamo]

Educational science a sponsor on here has painted lady larvae I just spotted them today

 

[melric]

Thanks to all of you. Neither Cham seems to like silkworms or hornworms, so I was hoping for something that flies to attract their attention. Not too sure about raising bees, though . I know that a sponsor on here sells butterfly cocoons and I didn't know if anyone had experience with that. I know many butterflies can be toxic - does anyone have a link to safe ones? Thanks again everyone!

If you can get the silkworms to cocoon and become moths I know my chams really loved eating them. Plus, silkworms are easy.

 

[absolutbill]

I'll check out the painted ladies - that'll be an easier sell to my husband than bees! Thanks again to everyone for their input and I'll PM Pssh.

Michelle

 

[pssh]

Cabbage whites, buckeye butterflies, painted ladies, west coast ladies, american ladies, red admirals, many other "whites" and some skippers are safe to feed. Stay away from swallowtails and monarchs/related butterflies. No fritilaries or longwings either.

 

[absolutbill]

Awesome Pssh, thanks a bunch for your help, guess I now have a project for my days off!

Michelle

 

[okiroo]

waxworms turn into waxmoths and their easy to raise. you dont have o feed them and it doesnt take very long.