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Butterfly Release 2013
Simon Knott
Posts: 115
My daughter raised and released some painted lady butterflies last year. Here is a short video of their release and some dahlias that I grew too.
Here is the link http://youtu.be/2qegvKY4Gwg
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Patsy, that's the same place we got ours from - did really well. Good luck with your next batch.
Great video
I love butterflies!!
Thanks Kay8! Glad you enjoyed it.
I don't mean to sound negative with this, but if we are continually told that butterflies are becoming rare, what are companies doing selling caterpillars to the general public. I know you lot are very responsible people but what if these kits are bought by people who think it's a bit of a game and get bored looking after them. Surely a breeding programme like this should be a bit more scientific
I welcome comments on this. It's not you I'm having a go at, just seems a bit irresponsible from the company making money out of this.
I see what you're saying Mark, but on the opposite end... it makes people appreciate them and help to conserve these beautiful creatures!
I would like to think that paying for the pupae would deter people that can't be bothered or get bored.
I do see your point though!!
Caterpillars reared in captivity have a much higher survival rate than wild ones though so it probably balances out.
Lovely video and it really took me back! I used to raise caterpillars way back when I was a child. Peacocks, tortoiseshells and swallowtails. It always amazed me how tame they were even after they were released.
Mark1963 I also understand and see what you are saying, however, a couple of points to ponder: perhaps painted ladies are not particularly rare? Also, if we didn't buy them, perhaps there would be even less of them? Who would sponsor the breeding programme? Hopefully most people who buy them are responsible.
We had 5 caterpillars and released 5 butterflies so we were very pleased with the sucess rate.
As kay8 says, raising the butterflies makes people appreciate nature a bit more as they feel connected to it.
Thanks to all for your comments!
If rearing and releasing Painted Ladies it would be a good idea to grow some thistles, an good nectar source for the butterflies and an important food source for the caterpillars - then you might have them breeding in the wild in your garden
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
In a previous garden - only a few hundred yards from where I am just now - I regularly had Painted Lady butterflies. Perhaps it was all the thistles Dove!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Good idea dovefromabove regards the thistles! We do have some buddlea shrubs which attract the butterflies too.