Butterfly house is viable?

Hello, good afternoon.

I have a space at home in a forgotten part of the garden, measuring 6x2x2 meters.

I'd like to know if I can use that space to set up a butterfly house for a species that doesn't "need" so much flight or so much space to thrive.

I've seen several users with the typical green greenhouse with small windows, and I see that it works well for them, but I want to make sure the animals are comfortable in that space.

Thanks in advance, best regards!

Hello again! Thank you so much for the clarification and advice.

With the insect issue, you have to be very careful, but I don't think it's impossible. However, if it's well protected from external agents, there might not be as many problems.

For this project, I had planned to have it as a flight, mating, and egg-laying area, but also a larval breeding area, with controlled food plants in pots or baskets and mesh screens in the same greenhouse. I have an example photo of how I do it now.

The summer heat can be dissipated with the side windows and an extractor fan I have that draws air out 🙌🏽

By the way, smaller species like Heliconius or similar are possible in this butterfly house, right? Thanks again, everyone🙌🏽

Thanks for the advice Pflanzenfreund.

But do you really think large species like caligo and papilio can thrive in that "reduced" space? I mean, can they fly and mate properly?

Anyway, I guess it's all a matter of experimenting with these types of home butterfly farms jejjej

Thank you so much for your Brimstone.

I was just thinking about putting up a double door with a screen, and using my 3D printer, designing a closure based on several magnets so that when I walk through, the door closes automatically due to its weight... It's a good idea, right?

That way, on the hottest days, I can leave the plastic open and the screen does its job, letting in a lot more air.

As for feeding, I've already raised some species of papilio and danaus in smaller boxes, feeding them with apple, orange, and banana puree, and a 50/50 mix of water and honey 💪🏽 And they seem to love it 😬

Hello, good morning again. I'm leaving a photo and a sketch of what the site will look like when the structure finally arrives and I can start putting everything together. 🙌🏽 I hope you like it

Thanks for your advice, my friend.

I can't put up the entire top layer because it's a lot of work, and I think the greenhouse could lose a lot of heat.

Where I live, the minimum temperatures can be 12 degrees in winter, and that's not good for tropical species...

I'm also going to make two upper windows to let in more light, direct sunlight, and some extra ventilation when it's really hot. 👌🏽

I also hope that in these 10 square meters I can have some species like yours, and at least reproduce them successfully. 🙌🏽

Best regards!

Of course, we're in a different geographical area, and the breeding method may not be the same.

The minimum winter temperatures are 12°C, but the maximum can be as high as 25°C.

I live in the Canary Islands, and the weather here is more or less good year-round.

I've already managed to raise tropical species in those conditions, but with a smaller breeding room, so I want to try and see what temperature this greenhouse project can maintain. 🫰🏽

Thanks for your advice, friend. I'll post updates so you can see them. 💪🏽

Best regards.

Yes, my friend, that's what everyone tells me:

That I won't have any problems with tropical species. As you say, it's a matter of trial and error 😬🙌🏽