Breeding: Pyrgus malvae

[wolf]

Yet another new project from this year. The larva can use a variety of plants as hostplant. In my case i used Filipendula ulmaria and Fragaria vesca. This species is also widespread in Norway, usually having only one generation. Four of my larva completed the full lifecycle this summer, producing a 2nd generation. The rest hibernates as pupa.
Lifecycle information: Full lifecycle from egg to imago lasted around 10 weeks. I lost track on how many times it molted as i was away for a couple of weeks during the breeding. It was also hard to follow the development as the larva creates a housing of the leaves, living inside.
Eggs used 7 days to hatch
Larval stages lasted 43 days
Pupal stages lasted 22 days
Difficulty rating based on % of individuals gotten through to imago(1=hard, 5=easy): 4/5

Egg


L1


Half grown larva


Full grown larva



Characteristic leaf housing


Pupa


Imago


A few more high res pictures over HERE

[adamcotton]

The larva feed on different plants.

Please can you explain a bit more about this. I assume you mean that at a particular instar the larvae move from one species of plant to a different one.

Adam.

[wolf]

The larva feed on different plants.

Please can you explain a bit more about this. I assume you mean that at a particular instar the larvae move from one species of plant to a different one.

Adam.

Hi Adam. No, i just mean it can use a variety of plants as hostplant(i updated the original post). However it was no problem to switch back and fourth between the two hostplants i used in the middle of the larval stages.

[adamcotton]

Ah, I understand. The way you originally wrote the text suggested that they start feeding on one plant and then at some stage need to switch to a different host plant species in order to finish the larval stage. Thanks for the clarification.

Adam.

[bobw]

Adam, there are some species that do that, e.g. Euphydryas maturna lays on trees such as Ash (Fraxinus sp.) and feeds on that pre-hibernation, then feeds on Honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.) post-hibernation.

In Britain, Pyrgus malvae usually feeds on Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca).