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The Chinese windmill butterfly, Atrophaneura alcinous, is an important butterfly for exhibition in butterfly garden. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of temperature on A. alcinous in the laboratory. Development of A. alcinous reared on leaves of Aristolochia contorta was investigated at five constant the laboratory condition (20, 22.5, 25, 27. C. The developmental threshold temperature estimated for egg-to-pupae was 10.8, with a thermal constant of 230.4 degree-days. Therefore, the optimal developmental temperature for A. alninous was determined to be 25 o C. To compare the effects of the total duration of chilling on the termination of diapause, larvae were subjected to a temperature of 8 o C from 60 to 120 days. The rate of termination of diapause was significantly higher at 60 days compared to other incubation period.

To establish an indoor-rearing system for the Large Copper butterfly, Lycaena dispar and the Small Copper butterfly, Lycaena phlaeas, the effect of temperature, photoperiod and host plants on larval development was investigated. The larvae of Lycaena dispar fed on Rumex crispus, whereas the larvae of Lycaena phlaeas ate both Rumex crispus and Rumex acetosa. The duration of the larval period of Lycaena dispar was 13.8 days on R. crispus and that, of Lycaena phlaeas was 15.9 days and 15.2 days on R. acetosa and R. crispus respectively. Laboratory experiments show that the Large Copper larvae are able to feed on other Rumex species without harming their overall survival and can utilize these alternative host plants at least as efficiently as their natural host plant. This result suggests that plant chemistry is not responsible for their lack of utilization of the alternative host plants in the wild. Host plant choice by ovipositing females was measured with the two alternative hosts. Lycaena dispar preferred R. crispus to R. acetosa, wheareas Lycaena phlaeas preferred R. acetosa to R. crispus. Temperature has been proposed as an important determinant of developmental rate, lifespan and mortality in invertebrates. As temperature increased, length of the developmental period gradually decreased. The developmental period of the Large Copper larvae was 11.0 days and 28.5 days at 30 o C and 17.5 o C, respectively.