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Hornworm = Hawk Moth
- Thread starter PatsyB
- Start date
Not sure any of this is going to work but it's been a fun experiment. The moth took to climbing the stick right away one of his wings looks damaged though so not sure he can fly. There's 3 or 4 more pulpa buried in the dirt. The ones on top I had just sitting on moist paper towel. They are still alive.
- Messages
- 421
Will they reproduce easily captivity?
Not sure! This is the first time I've tried this. I ordered too many hornworms and they grew faster than they could be eaten. I just about gave up then saw the moth the other night! I put the hornworms in moist coconut substrate and they quickly dug holes and started to pulpate. I left about 5 in the substrate and then put 5 on a moist paper towel in a butterfly habitat. I read that you could do either or but the ones in the substrate are the only ones that have turned so far. It's been a learning process. They need a lot of humidity and a stick to climb on so once they emerge they can climb up it and dry their wings off. My first one didn't have that option and one of his wings is deformed. They are also very messy. After they emerge they secrete the fluid out of their body. Luckily I read about it so I put shower curtains around the habitat so it wouldn't go all over!
So I'm not sure that it's going to be possible for them to mate if the one has a deformed wing but we'll see what happens. Hopefully another moth will come out in a few days. I really didn't think any of this was going to happen, It's been real interesting. My inner geek is coming out
So I'm not sure that it's going to be possible for them to mate if the one has a deformed wing but we'll see what happens. Hopefully another moth will come out in a few days. I really didn't think any of this was going to happen, It's been real interesting. My inner geek is coming out
- Messages
- 1,515
- Location
- Redlands, CA
Incredible. Always been fascinated by this process. Thanks for sharing these photos!
@Josh it really is fascinating. I really don't like bugs and such but when you watch the whole process it's really amazing and they aren't that scary anymore. I just checked, I think I may have another moth tomorrow!
Grant3679
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 10
Be careful with those, when i wa little i picked one up and its stuck its tongue through my finger...
I'm having problems posting from my phone. This is the second time I wrote something and it didn't post 
ANYWAY, yesterday morning I woke up to two moths attached to each other. I hope they did what I think they did! I checked this morning and I now have 5 total moths! No eggs yet but a very curious cat that is mad she can't go in the basement anymore.
@Grant3679 thanks for the warning! I really try not to touch them I don't want to hurt their wings. If I have to move them for any reason, I use a stick and let them latch on to it.
Hopefully this picture comes up:
ANYWAY, yesterday morning I woke up to two moths attached to each other. I hope they did what I think they did! I checked this morning and I now have 5 total moths! No eggs yet but a very curious cat that is mad she can't go in the basement anymore. @Grant3679 thanks for the warning! I really try not to touch them I don't want to hurt their wings. If I have to move them for any reason, I use a stick and let them latch on to it.
Hopefully this picture comes up:
Attachments
GUESS WHAT???? I GOT EGGS! Contrary to belief they don't always lay eggs on a plant. My deformed moth actually laid eggs on the water bowl. I watched her do it this afternoon and didn't realize what she was doing. I just thought she was struggling to right herself, LOL! I got about 21 eggs they are hard and sticky. Took a bit of work to get them off the container.
Okay so it's Wednesday and I have about 85 total eggs and 6 moths! They lay eggs EVERYWHERE, LOL! They started to lay them on the tomato plant which is a little hard to see. It's a little time consuming searching for eggs, that's why I haven't been on the forum too much.
Hopefully by this weekend some of these eggs will start hatching. I already have the food ready for them.
Hopefully by this weekend some of these eggs will start hatching. I already have the food ready for them.
- Messages
- 421
This is awesome!!! Thanks for doing this )
No problem! I'm so excited, I can't believe it worked and I really didn't really go out of my way. I will take pictures of my set up, it really is nothing special. I think these are all the eggs I'm going to get, the past few days I've had 3 moths die off and no eggs laid. I still have 3 more moths hanging on. I got just a little over 100, with 7 frogs and 2 beardies that should last me a week LOL!
- Messages
- 421
7 frogs? What kind if I may ask.
What did you feed them? The worms that is.
What did you feed them? The worms that is.
I have 7 Whites tree frogs. 3 with golden eyes and 2 with blue eyes. They are the sweetest little frogs. Lot's of personality just like the beardies.
I bought a pre made hornworm food from Great Lakes Horn Worm that i've been storing in my refrigerator. I went to Menards and bought some gutter guard for the worms to crawl on and some plastic shoe boxes from the dollar store.
The moths need just a hummingbird nectar which I put in a bowl with some paper towel to act like a sponge. You don't want the moths to get swim in a pool of sticky liquid or they won't fly.
I just found a 16x16x30 Reptibreeze cage on Amazon for $14! I may have to get it
I bought a pre made hornworm food from Great Lakes Horn Worm that i've been storing in my refrigerator. I went to Menards and bought some gutter guard for the worms to crawl on and some plastic shoe boxes from the dollar store.
The moths need just a hummingbird nectar which I put in a bowl with some paper towel to act like a sponge. You don't want the moths to get swim in a pool of sticky liquid or they won't fly.
I just found a 16x16x30 Reptibreeze cage on Amazon for $14! I may have to get it
