silkworm eggs - what's the longest wait before they hatch?

What is the longest period of time that silkworm eggs could take to hatch?

I recently started breeding silkworms for myself. its going well. I had far too many silkworms last time, which meant more moths than I needed, leading to too many eggs. So since I didnt want or need them all, I've been free to experiment a bit with them. I was trying to see if refridgeration, or a more gentle cooling off period (like in my basement) was necessary or helpful.
I left lots of eggs in the same warm room in which they were laid. I put some eggs in the fridge. I put some down in the cool basement for awhile.
ANYHOW, I've still got a bunch of eggs that havent hatched, and I'm wondering if there is a maximum length of time one should wait. Maybe after x number of week or months of sitting out, if the eggs are not hatching they are never going to, and I should give them to the crickets and roaches etc to eat.

With refrigeration I got mine hatch within 5- 6 days.
no refrigeration - I have one just hatch after 6 months! I thought they are dead already. But, to my surprise they are hatching.
Interesting idea on giving them to roaches and crickets. I never thought of that.

In my last batch I was able to witness the hatching of 1.5 year old eggs. The went in the fridge as soon as they turned dark. They hatched successfully, but not all of the eggs seem to have made it. I read somewhere that hatching rate was increased by at least 3 months of refrigeration. My one time test seemed to confirm this hypothesis.

dodolah said:

With refrigeration I got mine hatch within 5- 6 days.
no refrigeration - I have one just hatch after 6 months! I thought they are dead already. But, to my surprise they are hatching.
Interesting idea on giving them to roaches and crickets. I never thought of that.

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Thanks! I'll hang onto half of them for 6 months, see what happens
The other half will be recycled (fed to the isopods, roaches and crickets) - waste not want not

sandrachameleon said:

Thanks! I'll hang onto half of them for 6 months, see what happens
The other half will be recycled (fed to the isopods, roaches and crickets) - waste not want not

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Great idea, feeding the eggs.

I have about 15 cocoons and 100+ more on the way. I plan to stagger the eggs out and see what kind of times I get with diapause and without. I will record the data on hatch times as well.

Here is to refining our silk breeding skills.

chambabysitter1 said:

Great idea, feeding the eggs.

I have about 15 cocoons and 100+ more on the way. I plan to stagger the eggs out and see what kind of times I get with diapause and without. I will record the data on hatch times as well.

Here is to refining our silk breeding skills.

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I look forward to the results!