Susie of Stoned Affection is a practicing entomologist who has been raising moths and butterflies—and raising awareness of them—since 2014. She also creates beautiful art from lepidoptera taxidermy. This week Susie joins Sean to talk about what it’s like to work with moths and butterflies, especially the ethical considerations that go into sourcing and raising both native and tropical species. If you’ve ever wondered about butterfly farming, butterfly houses, and sending live specimens through the mail, this is the episode to satisfy your curiosity. You’ll also find out what Susie thinks of lepidoptera in media, whether butterflies make good pollinators, and what the differences are between butterflies and moths. 

To learn more about Susie, her art, and her outreach, visit her website at www.stonedaffection.com, or catch a Twitch live stream at https://www.twitch.tv/stonedaffection.

You can also find Susie on social media: 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stonedaffection 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stonedaffection/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stonedaffection 

Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. 

Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com 

TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast 

YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast

Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com 

Credits

Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin

Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays

License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH

Timestamps

00:46 Introducing Susie of Stoned Affection|

03:21 Name Origins: Plants Always Win

05:00 Ordering Insects by Post

07:45 The Difference Between Moths and Butterflies

11:40 The Family Lepidoptera

12:50 Butterflies are Surprisingly Nasty, Little Creatures

14:23 Moths That Can't Eat

16:12 Are Butterflies Good Pollinators?

17:35 Making Silk from Silk Moths

19:25 What do Moths Get Up to at Night?

22:30 Ethically Sourcing Tropical and Local Insects

27:00 Farmed Tropical Insects

28:00 Butterfly Houses: Good or Bad?

30:50 Susie's Favourite Squeaking Moth Species

33:10 Susie's Favourite Butterfly

35:19 What Happens when a Butterfly Pupates?

40:28 Lepidoptera in Movies and TV Shows

43:20 Susie's Public Outreach Work

47:14 Sean's Relationship with Insects

50:40 Jumping Spiders as Pets

54:52 Earthworms in North America

58:45 Susie's Plugs

1:04:15 Susie's Word of Wisdom

1:04:30 Conclusion and Contact Us