wolf
Aurelian
Posts: 132
Country: Norway
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Post by wolf on Jun 11, 2018 11:49:32 GMT
This is a common species around my parts of the world, but i decided to make a breeding effort of these to see the lifecycle and document with some pictures. Some data: Caught a female 18. May. She laid eggs from the 18. May. The first eggs started to hatch on the 23. May. The first larva started pupating on the 9. June. I fed the larva on blueberry(Vaccinium myrtillus). Pupa hibernates until next spring! Some interessting observations: The newly hatched larva either only ate the flowers/half developed berries, or they dug in and ate the proximal stems of the plant, which caused the distal parts to die. This was very frustrating feeding behaviour because it ment i had to change plant almost everyday. Also the more adult larva never ate leaves, they only fed on the developing berries, digging their way further and further into the berries leaving holes and an empty interior of the berry. Eggs L1-L2 larva Half grown larva Full grown larva Pupa
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jun 11, 2018 14:39:09 GMT
Congratulations on an excellent job well done. It sounds like very hard work, but over a short period of time, as it seems the larval stage is very fast.
Adam.
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wolf
Aurelian
Posts: 132
Country: Norway
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Post by wolf on Jun 11, 2018 15:41:13 GMT
Yes Adam, the larval stage was very fast, only about 2,5 weeks from newly hatched to pupa. It has been a very hot may with tempratures up to and above 30 degrees! idk if that has an impact on how fast the larva eat and develop. It sure has impacted the butterfly season though as species usually flying in June have been reported from mid May. Also some species flying usually in beginning of july is allready on the wing!
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wolf
Aurelian
Posts: 132
Country: Norway
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Post by wolf on Jun 20, 2018 17:28:28 GMT
UPDATE: First male hatched yesterday. I was not aware that these could have a 2. gen in Norway. Pleasantly surprised that i didn't have to wait until next year for the result
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