Papilio machaon Zucht: Überwinterung, Haltung

In case with Papilio machaon and any other butterfly that hibernates as a chrysalis, the butterfly will emerge around it’s usual pupation time. It’s always best to let overwinter, but if you have proper plants and a warm environment, there is no reason you cannot keep them over winter. The pupae would hatch around 3 weeks for P. machaon if kept in warm temperatures.

I do not breed many swallowtails but I keep many and raise them. Swallowtails need larger flight cages than most butterflies. I keep them in a 5 by 8 mesh cage with a heat lamp and many plants. Swallowtail caterpillars can be kept in a mesh cage with proper host plants and ventilation. Pupae are almost always on the side of a stick for me. Make sure to keep the stick upright so the butterfly may hang.