growing butterflies in israel

Sun Feb 21 12:41:11 EST 1999

><HTML><PRE>Subject: growing butterflies in israel
>From: manigal at hotmail.com (mani gal)
>Date: Sun, Feb 21, 1999 01:53 EST
>Message-id: <19990221063420.22945.qmail at hotmail.com>
>
>shalom
>I am new to this group and hope this is the right address to my 
>searches.
>
>I gathered a few questions and information concerning our interest in 
>starting to grow butterflies here, in Israel, by the dead sea.
>1. Ein Gedi is situated in the lowest spot on Earth. The region is 
>desert, very hot and extremely dry. We live by the Dead Sea and the 
>special butterfly we have here is the DANAUS CHRYSIPPUS.

Neat Butterfly, similar to the Monarch.

>2. We are thinking of starting to grow different sorts of butterflies - 
>for research & also as an atraction for tourists.
>3. Questions I would like to ask:
>A) What sorts of butterflies might suit our environment?

For starters whatever you can find outside!

>B) Is it possible to grow several kinds of butterflies in the same 
>'greenhous' ('container')?

No it is not a good idea as they will often require different food plants. 
Small plastic cups worka at the star and larger ones used later often work for
the hobbyist.

>C) What conditions do we need to create for the plants and the 
>butterflies?

Use Plants that can grow outside.  Only the leaves need be out in the rearing
containers.

>D) Can we grow the whole cycle of the butterfly in the same conditions?

Up to the adult butterfly yes, the adults need space to fly.

>E) Do you know people who are experts in growing those sorts of 
>butterflies we are looking for (maybe tropical, desert etc...)?

There are such.

>Thanks for your attention. Any help that may give us the first push will 
>be appreciated.
>Klila Levyim
>Ein Gedi
>Dead Sea 
>Israel