Behind

the Scenes

OUR REARING PRACTICES

It all starts with plants.

  • How we raise our own plants in an enclosed greenhouse with beneficial insects— no pesticides

    • Show picture of greenhouse

  • Depending on the species, we use cuttings or potted plants to feed larvae

  • Nearly all milkweed is grown within the greenhouse, meaning wild monarch butterflies do not have access— reduces chance of OE transmission

  • All milkweed is sanitized in a weak bleach solution to kill off any possible OE spores that may have come into contact with the plant

  • Any reusable material (plant pots, floral tubes, etc.) are sanitized before reuse.

  • Any potted plant material that has entered an enclosure gets tossed so as to reduce any risk of spreading disease

  • Any plant material used from outside of the greenhouse is sanitized in a mild bleach solution

Eggs anyone?

Caterpillars take a staycation in the lab.

  • Temperature and humidity regulated conditions in a room with lights that simulate the outdoor light spectrum and utilizing timers to simulate summer or fall day-length

    • Caterpillars respond not only to day-length but also the color spectrum of light

    • Some caterpillar species feed during the day and others feed at night

    • Having the proper light intensity, color spectrum, and day-length are very important for developing caterpillars

  • Some species are raised in transparent totes that have been retrofitted with screen to allow for proper humidity levels and airflow and also to allow the full light spectrum to enter through the sides of the tote bins

  • Other species are raised in mesh pop-up enclosures of various sizes that allow for light penetration and airflow. We sometimes use clear transparent bags over the enclosures to increase humidity to optimum levels should it be needed

  • All tote bins and rearing supplies are sanitized prior to use.

Why do we raise caterpillars inside?

  • Disease Prevention

    • We are certified in Lepidopteran Disease Prevention through the Association for Butterflies

    • We regularly test our breeding stock for various diseases (OE, nosema)

    • Test for OE by taking abdominal scale prints and inspecting under a microscope

      • Show image of testing for OE

      • All adult danaid butterflies (Monarchs & Queens) are tested for OE prior to release.

    • Test for nosema by inspecting meconium under a microscope using a wet mount preparation

      • Show wet-mount picture of testing for nosema

    • We have in place a set of standard operating procedures to reduce risk of disease and disease transmission

    • We are continually testing and adding new genetic material to our breeding stock to ensure that our butterflies have strong and healthy genetics