'Sleeving out' is about as close as a practical lepidopterist can get to simulating natural conditions for capitve bred livestock. Living food, natural light and all round air flow will be a boost to any larva's health. The rearer is also relieved form the burden of daily changing and cleaning and stock can be left for extended periods. A real time saver! These professionally sewn, quality sleeves, are made from very-fine, black UV resistant netting and are perfect for housing larvae outside on trees and shrubs, or tying around cut food stood in water indoors. Sleeve netting, whilst very soft and capable of excluding the tiniest, parasitic predator, is a grade coarser than butterfly cage netting and will not be pierced as easily by sharp twigs. Remember that you will need to 'manage' your sleeve, ensuring that droppings are emptied from the bottom at regular intervals and that food inside the sleeve is not allowed to drop to unacceptable levels.
Image shows our medium sized sleeve housing Actias luna larvae on Walnut.
