Best butterflies and moths spring 2021, be prepared

Spring is coming, butterflies and moths from the palearctic world will awake soon from diapause. As every year, we are preparing a wide range of species that will emerge progressively with the warming up of the new upcoming season. Their emergence must be tuned with the sprouting of their relative host plants, both annual and perennial.

We have received many messages asking for the list of species available in spring 2021. As you know, at Time To Breed, we don’t make pre-orders and we sell our products only when they are ready to be shipped. By the way, we want to give you an anticipation on the species in stock, ready for the spring to come.

Italian butterflies and moths

Most of the Lepidoptera species that we usually offer throughout the year consist in tropical butterflies and moths. This year we will increase the catalogue of European species, with a special attention on Italian Lepidoptera. Below a list of some, not all, the European Lepidoptera species that will be for sale in our shop

• Papilio machaon, the old world swallowtail (cover image)
• Iphiclides podalirius, the scarce swallowtail
• Melitaea dydima, the spotted fritillaty
• Melitaea phoebe, the knapweed fritillary
• Vanessa cardui, the painted lady
• Saturnia piry, the giant peacock moth
• Saturnia pavonia, the small emperor moth
• Aglia tau, the Tau emperor

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All the insect species posted here will be available for sale at different timings. Given their nature and the unpredictability of the season, we cannot guarantee a fixed timeframe for their advertising. Thus, we strongly suggest to subscribe our newsletter. Find the form at our CONTACT page.

Butterflies and moths, biology and mythology

The majority of these species are ideal to rear both outdoor and indoor. Some are very easy to rear and breed, as Melitaea sp., while others can reveal to be more challenging, as the gorgeous Iphiclides podalirius. The scientific name of the scarce swallowtail derives from the ancient Greek mythology, where Podalirius and his brother Machaon, joined the Trojan war on the side of the Greeks.

American butterflies and moths

How to forget about the beautiful north American fauna? Several species of Saturniidae and Sphingidae from north America are amongst the more famous, beautiful and widely know. Just think about the Luna moth or the Polyphemus moth, which are symbols of a precious native fauna. Here we present a short catalogue o some of the butterflies and moths from the American continent, that we will offer from March 2021 onwards.

• Callosamia promethea, the Promethea silkmoth
• Actias luna, the Luna moth
• Antheraea polyphemus, the Polyphemus moth
• Hyalophora cecropia, the Cecropia moth
• Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail
• Anisota virginiensis, the pink-striped oakworm moth

If you want to learn more about these and other species visit butterflies and moths of north America. A comprehensive and illustrate website on the insect fauna of the new world.

African butterflies and moths

As the last, but not the least, we will offer a wide selection of butterflies and moths from central Africa. Such species are, off course, not palearctic, but preferable to rear from March/April onwards, when their alternative host plants will start to sprout new leaves. Many of these Lepidoptera will be offered for sale this year for the first time, we are very exited to start rearing and breeding them.

• Argema mimosae, the African moon moth
• Bunaea alcinoe, the cabbage tree emperor moth
• Epiphora mythimnia
• Gonimbrasia zambesina
• Gynanisa maja
• Papilio phorcas
• Papilio demodocus
• Papilio rex

If you can’t wait until spring, there are some very interesting insect species that can be bred and reared all year round, to find more about, visit our SHOP.

In the meanwhile, enjoy the last period of cold and be prepared for the next season!