The Biology of Troides helena spilotia Rothschild and the Preliminary Study of Its Large-scale Breeding

The largest and most precious Chinese butterfly Troides helena spilotia Rothschild is occurring all year round with overlapping 6 generations in Hainan Jianfengling forest each year. The appropriate growth temperature for it is 25－30 ℃, and the humidity is 70%－80%. Large-scale artificial breeding of Troides helena spilotia Rothschild need to comply with the requirements of their breeding rooms by planting host plants for their eggs. Dilution of the concentration of honey and water is 10%－15% in summer and 5% in winter; the eggs should be moisturizing when collecting indoor and outdoor. The larvae should be transferred to the host plants planted in the field with net bags; and transfer them to different host plants timely according to their instars and food intake; the indoor population density should be controlled. Due to the 4－5 instars larvae will ingest a great deal of food, they need to be fed 3 times a day in the morning, afternoon and the evening. The ways to suspend the pupa when feeding indoor and outdoor vary according to the breeding facilities. The pupa should be collected and put in the emergence room and hung them up according to their natural shape. The suitable temperature for it is 25－28 ℃, and humidity is 60%－80%.