How to Raise Butterflies? A Detailed Explanation of the Three Major Differences from Moths

Every year around April, large numbers of butterflies appear among the flowers, in the grass, and along the edges of fields. They are very beautiful, and many people even catch them to raise at home. So how do you raise butterflies? And what is the difference from moths?

1. Introduction to Butterflies:

1. What kinds of butterflies are there?

There are many kinds of butterflies, about 14,000 species nationwide, and China alone has 1,200 species. By family and genus, they can be divided into Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae, Hesperiidae, Euschemonidae, Nymphalidae, Amathusiidae, Lycaenidae, Riodinidae, Morphidae, Heliconiidae, Megathymidae, Ithomiidae and many others. Among them, the red-banded longwing, owl butterfly, dead leaf butterfly, eighty-eight butterfly, wide-banded black-veined clearwing, leopard lacewing, and blue morpho are among the most beautiful of all butterflies.

2. Are butterflies beneficial insects or pests?

It is hard to say whether butterflies are beneficial insects or pests, because in the larval stage butterflies are pests, and in the adult stage they are beneficial insects. During the larval stage, butterflies mainly feed on plants to grow; when they reach the adult stage, they pollinate plants for them. But there are also butterflies that harm crop growth, for example, the small white mainly harms cabbage, the rice skipper and rice green-horned butterfly mainly harm rice, the citrus swallowtail mainly harms citrus, and the camphor swallowtail mainly harms camphor trees, and so on. So whether it is a beneficial insect or a pest still depends on what kind of butterfly it is.

2. How to Raise Butterflies?

1. Site selection and construction: Where is it suitable to grow?

Butterflies are suitable for growing in moist areas with sufficient sunlight, deep and fertile soil, and good ventilation. However, because they feed on pollen and the flesh of plants, when choosing a site, try to choose a moist area far from vegetable gardens or orchards for breeding. After choosing the site, use wooden strips to make a cage about 2 m long, 2 m wide, and 1.8 m high, and enclose the surroundings with nylon mesh to prevent them from escaping.

2. Hatching: How to hatch?

There are many kinds of butterflies, so when selecting species, try to buy them from local specialized breeding units, then place some leaves or branches in the cage to let them lay eggs. If you catch them yourself, pay attention to pairing males and females, and according to the butterflies' growth habits, provide a place for egg-laying and increase indoor humidity, so as to increase the egg-laying rate.

3. Feeding requirements: What is good to feed them?

Butterflies mainly feed on pollen, so during breeding, you can provide some liquid feed such as syrup, honey juice, and milk to ensure they have enough food. But if you are raising swallowtails, you need to feed them a mixed combination of dry yeast, glucose, sucrose, and cabbage leaves, so that they will be raised well. If conditions permit, you can grow some umbellifer flowers in the site to ensure sufficient pollen.

4. Breeding density: How many is good to raise?

After butterflies lay eggs, they will gradually grow larger over time, so you need to control the breeding density to prevent them from killing each other. How many to raise per square meter specifically depends on how big the butterflies are; as long as it is not too dense, it is fine.

3. What is the difference between butterflies and moths?

Difference one, different flying ways: Butterflies generally fly during the day; moths fly regardless of day or night.

Difference two, different colors: Butterflies are various in color, while moths are mostly black or brown.

Difference three, different appearance: The scales on butterfly wings are bright and glossy, and the surface is not covered with fuzz, though some have obvious fuzz, but very few. In addition, the tips have enlarged club-shaped antennae; the bodies of moths are densely covered with hair, and the tips of the antennae are needle-like, with the whole antenna feather-like. Of course, some moths active during the day have antennae similar to butterflies, but this is rare.

Overall, butterflies are very easy to raise; as long as you do a good job with hatching and feeding, they will grow very well. In addition, although butterflies are similar to moths, the two have certain differences in color and appearance, so be sure to pay attention when catching them.