A little help with silk moths

[nightanole]

Hey so my 10 worms turned into cocoons over 7 days. I have a few questions after they emerge. i have 5 striped and 5 plan so hoping for a good breeding.

How can i tell a moth female from a male?
How should i handle eggs since i hear they deposit everywhere. I probably wont be home when egg laying occurs. Also how do you get eggs loose without damage, i have the petri dishes and glue stick when the time comes.

How do i store eggs in the frig for months? I think i wait 7-14 or so days till all the eggs turn dark, then pop in frig till spring. But how do i store? open air container, sealed baggy with silica packet, etc.

On the bright side my geriatric beardy whom i thought wasnt going to survive another hibernation, only hibernated 50 days and is now eating 6-8 1.75" worms a day!

 

[ClubFauna]

I let my moths lay there eggs on paper. Wait until their turn brown. Then put in zip lock baggies and store away in the fridge until I need them. Female moths are a lot bigger and will mate with makes right away. Males actually attack them almost right away lol

 

[Kate]

I lined the box with paper towel and they lay mostly one area. The eggs stick to the paper. I stored mine in fridge for about 6 weeks but they haven't hatched.

 

[ClubFauna]

They won't hatch in the fridge. You need to take them out too room temperature for them to hatch. I usually have my eggs in the fridge for about 2-4 months before I take them out of fridge to hatch. This allows for a good time to stimulate a winter cycle for them. 6 weeks might have been to early

 

[nightanole]

I know they wont hatch in the fridge. Im taking about fridge storage. Looks like its just s sealed zip lock bag. I didnt know if they needed air circulation or if i needed to worry about condensation or mold.

And looks like you put them in the fridge as soon as all the eggs turn blue.

 

[pigglett79]

I let them lay on paper towels. If you put a toilet paper roll over the female after she mates, she will lay the eggs in a nice circle. You don't have to refrigerate the eggs unless you want to save them. They will hatch without refrigeration. I keep them at around 80 degrees using a light bulb for heat. The females are much bigger than the males.

If you do want to refrigerate let them stay out at room temp for several days until they turn grey prior to putting in the refrigerator. I just place them in a zip lock bag for frig storage. I keep them in the crisper drawer without moisture.

 

[Kate]

Ok. Took them out of fridge begining of Dec. In incubater with other things at approx 80-84 degrees. Am i being impatient or are they lost?

 

[pigglett79]

I have had some eggs take 2 months or longer to hatch once out of the frig.......just keep waiting.

 

[Kate]

I have had some eggs take 2 months or longer to hatch once out of the frig.......just keep waiting.

Thanks.