Lots of things to see this summer ..

Now that we've been open four months, our own butterfly breeding programme coming into full flow, helping to boost the numbers that we import.  Our first Blue Morphos are emerging this week. The Postman, small postman, zebra and Ismenius longwings are all busy eating down our Passion vines.  Also on the way are dozens of Owl caterpillars and a few of the Purple Mort Bleu butterfly (Eryphanis).

We have four species of moths out this week - an impressive male Comet moth, several of our own Indian moon moths, two giant atlas moths that are currently pairing and a new species called the Senagalese Emperor Moth.  We also have the strange Brahmea moth caterpillars with their twisted, wiry outgrowths and one of the fastest growing caterpillars we ever display. 

We are currently making a CITES application to import some Golden Birdwing pupae (Troides rhadamantus) from the Philippines.  These are huge black and yellow butterflies that are rarely seen in displays. 

Four species of moths out - including the little-known Bulls eye moth

A Madagascan bulls eye moth has emerged after two months in its cocoons.  This striking moth has a huge pair of fake eyes on the hind wings.  These wings move from side to side in a scissor-like motion when disturbed.  Last night, two were seen to be pairing meaning that we might be a able to breed this species this season.  Other moths of note out this week are the long-awaited male Comet moth and Antherea frithii silk moths.  

A magnificent Moon Moth emerges

The first female Comet Moth emerged this week from its silky cocoon.  The Comet Moth is a huge, yellow moth with four 'moons' on  the wings and long, twisted tails, hence its name.  This female is the first of a batch of 20 to emerge. We are hoping to breed them this season, something that has eluded us in the past.  This individual will live just a couple of weeks.

Devil's Tongue Flowers

The Devil's Tongue has just come into bloom.  A relative of the Titan Aroid, it has rubbery, brown vase-like spathe and a 'tongue' that has glistening secretions that mimic putrefying flesh.  A bad smell goes along with the ruse and it attracts hundreds of flies. These fall down the vase and get dusted with pollen before they are released.  The flower lasts just three days.

A neon blue butterfly

The new butterflies from Surinam are now emerging.  There is the neon-blue of the Nessaea and a lovely blue sheen on the Scarlet Peacock.  Carrying on the blue theme, we have  a new species of Blue Morpho that is just starting to emerge.  Come and see them now as this is a one-off order for this year. 

Moths emerging: Rothschildia and Cricula

Two moths have emerged this week at the butterfly house; a Rothschildia lebeau from Costa Rica and a Cricula fenestrata that we bred through last year. The Rothschildia moth belongs to the Emperor moth family.

New butterflies from Surinam on their way

We are expecting a delivery of pupae from Surinam which should be emerging from around the middle of April onwards.   This is the first time we are trying these pupae and we're looking forward to seeing the different forms.  Included in the mix are the Purple Mort Bleu, a relative of the Owl butterfly; the Achilles Morpho, as well as new forms of the Postman which vary radically from country to country.