Hi Chris,
I’m breeding heilconius erato petiravana, I have the south texas population that has been breed for over 12 years within the same genetic pool. I have a nice group of breeders at about 100 adults. I saw your photo of your artificial feeders. They look interesting. Is it possible to tell me how they are made. Looks like straws in a plastic cup. and what is your nectar formula.
Sincerely,
Steve ONeil
Hi Steve
The feeders are indeed just plastic straws pushed into a plastic cup. I push them into the cup and then use a scalpel to cut them off to size across the top. We use about 10% sugar solution and add a couple of scoopfuls of ‘Critical Care Formula’ which is a food supplement for rearing birds (about 1%). It seems to work as a pollen supplement. Is your erato stock derived from Larry Gilbert’s collections in Costa Rica?
Best
Chris
Hi Chris,
I’m breeding heilconius erato petiravana, I have the south texas population that has been breed for over 12 years within the same genetic pool. I have a nice group of breeders at about 100 adults. I saw your photo of your artificial feeders. They look interesting. Is it possible to tell me how they are made. Looks like straws in a plastic cup. and what is your nectar formula.
Sincerely,
Steve ONeil
Hi Steve
The feeders are indeed just plastic straws pushed into a plastic cup. I push them into the cup and then use a scalpel to cut them off to size across the top. We use about 10% sugar solution and add a couple of scoopfuls of ‘Critical Care Formula’ which is a food supplement for rearing birds (about 1%). It seems to work as a pollen supplement. Is your erato stock derived from Larry Gilbert’s collections in Costa Rica?
Best
Chris