Welcome to Heart of England Butterflies

Heart of England Butterflies is a Central England based moth and butterfly supplier serving hobbyists, schools, universities, zoos and related establishments. Livestock is sent throughout the European Union, and set or framed specimens are shipped worldwide. The primary aims of this website are to promote and encourage captive breeding of moths and butterflies and document our own rearing photographically. We are proud to be part of a long tradition of lepidoptera breeders and livestock suppliers in the UK. Visitors to the website are free to use any life-cycle photographs for non commercial or educational purposes only.

British and continental moths and butterflies currently offered come from our own self-sustaining colonies, or from independent enthusiasts. Any set specimens offered are from captive breeding programmes or licensed breeding farms in overseas countries that help to safeguard areas rich in eco-diversity.

HEB strongly encourages the exchange of captive bred livestock materiaI for genetic and conservation reasons. If you have excess livestock, or livestock you think we would be interested in, please contact us.

Latest News 

The season is fast approaching and our new breeding area is almost complete. I am certainly looking forward to a change of emphasis, away from tree planting, and months of digging and barrowing tonnes of earth in the freezing cold! Due to the intensive nature of this project, it has meant however, that other things have not moved forward as quickly as we would have hoped - most notably, the 'preserved specimen' section - and this is not likely to be stocked now until the autumn. On a more progressive note, we have increased the list of species offered again this year and the new facilities will enable us to expand the range of species we can farm in significant numbers.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see image links of some of the species currently in stock.  The availability of all ova and larvae can be checked quickly by clicking on the 2010 expected livestock tab in the top right hand corner of this page. Customers ordering livestock are strongly advised to read the section ordering, also on the top menu bar.

Saturniidae in stock  Wild input, French, Samia cynthia cocoons; Ephiphora bauhiniae cocoons from Senegal and farm bred cocoons of the majestic Giant Atlas (Attacus atlas) in stock now. Also available is a large selection of wild input North American cocoons / pupae, Chinese Oak Silk Moth (Antheraea pernyi) eggs and overwintering eggs of Dictyoploca simla. See individual listings for full details.   

New livestock  Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros); Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa); Black Veined White (Aporia crataegi); Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni); Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra); Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus); Southern White Admiral (Limentis reducta); Wall (Lasiommata megera). British Kentish Glory (Endromis Veriscolora); Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria); Cream Spot Tiger (Arctica villica) and Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus). Ova and larvae of these dificult to obtain species can be pre-ordered now. See individual listings for full details.

New equipment  Glass topped display cases - Riker Mounts - are available in a range of sizes. View them in the equipment section. These highly attractive Butterfly Boxes are perfect for those specimens you do not wish to house in entomological cabinets.