Butterfly Breeding

[Monica BooM]

Hey!
I live in the London/Croydon area and would like to breed butterflies. So far I'm breeding Cabbage Whites but I want more colour but dont know which are best for the area. Anyone got any advice?

[Harry Eales]

Hello Monica,

It's getting a little late in the year now, most of the butterflies that are out now will not produce another brood this season. You could try Small Copper and Small Heath but neither are beginners material. You really need to have growing foodplant for them, so collecting grass seeds that the Small Heath feeds on and Sheep Sorrel seeds for the Small Copper and planting them ready for next season will help.

Next year try looking for the webs of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells on nettle, they are easy to look after, once you have some experience then try for other species.

Good luck,

Harry