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Post by lincoln on Jun 29, 2018 14:39:10 GMT -8
Hello,
Seven of my luna moth eggs just hatched today. I placed them in a small container (a 2 inch cube) with some shredded white (paper) birch leaves. There are several tiny half circles eaten out of some of these leaves. The container was completely sealed for two hours. When I checked on them, the container had condensation on the sides, and the caterpillars were at the bottom of the container and completely inactive. I opened the container, moved a couple around with a toothpick, and some of them are still squirming. Am I doing something wrong with them, or are they just resting after eating? Thanks for any insight you have.
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Post by LEPMAN on Jun 29, 2018 15:51:51 GMT -8
are you using fresh leaves? sometimes larva will refuse to eat if the leaves arent fresh. temperature may also be a concern in your case.
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Post by lincoln on Jun 29, 2018 15:56:49 GMT -8
The leaves were fresh off the tree at 4 pm, and when I checked on then it was 6 pm. I just replaced their leaves again. Indoor temperature is 77ºF, and 66% humidity. Does any of that sound off?
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Post by LEPMAN on Jun 29, 2018 17:14:37 GMT -8
maybe the larva are just young at the moment, if there is frass (poop) on the bottom of the container than I would not worry about it. It could also be due to the larvae having a host preferance!
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Post by lincoln on Jun 30, 2018 9:13:38 GMT -8
I am attaching a photo of them below. Today they are a darker green/brownish. They are all alive, and still barely wiggling their feet and bristles. They are in the sun for this photo, but otherwise I have kept them out of the sun. Does this help provide any insight? Thank you very much for the info.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Jun 30, 2018 16:38:21 GMT -8
I reared Luna moths twice, once on Sweet Gum and the second time on Black Walnut.
I believe that the preferred host plant is Black Walnut. During one of my visits to Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County, Indiana, I observed several Luna Moth catapillers coming down the trunks of Black Walnuts and searching under leads and forest floor litter for a place to pupate.
I do not know why I used Sweet Gum. Either I was told (I was in High School when I reared them the first time.) or read in Book that Sweet Gum was the larval host plant.
I still have seven specimens of Luna Moths in my collection with an emergence date of 17 July 1960. They are faded, however, it was a memorable event in my life.
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