Double cocoon!

[Miss Lily]

Tonight, I opened a few cocoons that had black marks showing through. Sadly a few silkies managed to spin but had died inside before they had actually pupated. I had one quite strange extra large cocoon and it was really hard, so I cut it open and inside I found TWO moths and a pile of eggs! Never seen that before! What's the chances of a male and a female spinning together and actually pupating, mating and laying eggs all without ever leaving the cocoon? The moths have only stumps left of their wings and have no fur on the top of their bodies. Here's some pics - I was absolutely amazed at what I found tonight!

One of the moths still inside trying to get out the end which was full of eggs!

The eggs inside

The two moths

 

[Solid Snake]

I think you need to perfect this method of breeding them, seems like its a lot easier.

 

[Robyrango]

That's well cool Tiff! Thanks for sharing..

 

[c2c]

I think you need to perfect this method of breeding them, seems like its a lot easier.

i second this. its like an egg capsule now. thats really cool. they didnt even get their full wings yet.

 

[Miss Lily]

Yeah, they got their fuzz and wings but I suppose it rubbed ff with a the wing flapping going on inside! The cocoon was really tough, I had a job to cut into it!

 

[Whatcamo]

I had that happen to a couple female moths that I think what happened they could get out and were stressed so they dumped their eggs you'll know in a few days if they start turning grey

 

[Miss Lily]

Yeah, I'm holding onto the eggs for now. I already have some that are grey from other females. It was quite odd that it was one of each in there - as soon as I freed them he started mating with her! Whether they mated inside the cocoon is yet to be established!