India hosts about 1501 butterfly species (12). But, in the past few decades, butterfly populations in India have declined (13), and it is often suggested that captive rearing/breeding and releasing of butterflies in the wild will help restock at-risk populations and serve as a means of conservation (7,17,20,26). Several zoos and other facilities currently engaged in captive rearing programs for protected butterfly species. For example, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association recently launched the butterfly conservation initiative, which reflects the mandate of 53 zoos and associated organizations to engage in local (North American) conservation efforts by supporting the recovery of 22 butterfly species, largely with captive propagation programs (http://www.butterflyrecovery.org/recovery/). Similarly, for 10 of 25 at-risk British butterfly species with a Species Action Plan, reintroduction, often implemented with captively propagated stock, is a priority (http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/). The basic protocol is to collect eggs from wild-mated female, rear larvae to adult butterflies in captive propagation facilities, and release adults/pupae back into wild populations (7).