Live Butterflies and moths

 

Cecropia moths, painted ladies, and polyphemus moths are the most common butterflies and moths that we raised in the museum. But we are diverse with other species of lepidoptera. Depending on the location and role in the stories. 

Did you know a family of butterflies and moths is called lepidoptera? Lepidoptera means scale wing in Greek. It's no wonder. The museum provides butterflies and moths that are indigenous to NY state. 

History of raising Lepidoptera 

It all began back when Spencer was nine and got painted lady butterflies for 2008 Christmas gifts. The whole experience was fun and fascinating to Spencer. In fact he started to raised other butterflies like the monarch and the cabbage white in 2016. During the same year he bought a live luna moth cocoon and the hobby grew more of not only raising butterflies but giant silk moths as well. 

Spencer experimented raising other New York natives. These species include black swallowtails, red admirals, cecropia moths, tiger swallowtails, buckeyes, hummingbird moths, and plus various species of swallowtail butterflies found in New York.

Today traditionally the museum offers releases of live butterflies such as the painted lady, and live giant silk moth species. Specific species like the polyphemus moth and the cecropia moth from spring to fall. 

Polyphemus moths 

(Anthereae polyphemus)

Polyphemus moths are native to North America and the most widespread silk moth ever in the North America continent. Ranging through south Canada to Mexico and the rest of the U.S. These moths featured a character named Mitch in The Butterfly Fairy's Silence Wings. There the second largest moths in North America. 

Painted ladies

(Vanessa cardui)

The painted lady butterfly is widespread almost the world. It includes continents like North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Northern South America. However it's absent in Australia and Antarctica. They play role as a character named Littlewing. Who is an painted lady butterfly with a disabled wing in The Butterfly Fairy tales. Interesting they carry pollen through their little legs over seas.

Cecropia moths

(Hyalophora cecropia)

Like the polyphemus moth, cecropia moths are giant silk moths with no mouth parts. Not any of The Butterfly Fairy books, cecropia moths do not have any role in the stories. But they do play important roles in the environment. There the largest moths in North America, and our museum is very lucky to have these beautiful beings as part of its collections.