Post by anaea on Jan 5, 2011 7:29:16 GMT -8
Back in winter 2009/2010 I managed to obtain a small number of very rare Rothschildia condor cocoons from Argentina. Having overwintered them, I was a little disappointed when they did not emerge and most of them died. However, i had three left. Then in October 2010 I oticed that two were eclosing. I was very pleased when shortly after this an adult male specimen emerged 
. This was followed within a few days by a female, which was even more pleasing 
. I managed to obtain a pairing which was again more exciting ;D. The female layed about 300 ovae over the next week or so, some of which I offered to other breeders. Having kept about 80+ myself, I got about 30 lavae, which hatched after about 3 weeks. These proved very easy to rear (on Privet), even at low temperatures (a high altitude species), and quite crowded conditions, although a few did perish in the early instars.
I now have most of them in the final instar, and 5 have so far pupated.
Below are pictures of the parent specimens.
. This was followed within a few days by a female, which was even more pleasing 
. I managed to obtain a pairing which was again more exciting ;D. The female layed about 300 ovae over the next week or so, some of which I offered to other breeders. Having kept about 80+ myself, I got about 30 lavae, which hatched after about 3 weeks. These proved very easy to rear (on Privet), even at low temperatures (a high altitude species), and quite crowded conditions, although a few did perish in the early instars.I now have most of them in the final instar, and 5 have so far pupated.
Below are pictures of the parent specimens.
