Hornworm food

[bloftis1]

So, I do have hornworm chow but when I run out, before I buy another bag of it, could I use mulberry leaves to feed them? Will they live off of them or no? Just to save money in the future.

 

[jamest0o0]

Silkworms eat mulberry leaves, that said though hornworms probably would too. IME they aren't that picky lol

 

[bloftis1]

Silkworms eat mulberry leaves, that said though hornworms probably would too. IME they aren't that picky lol

I actually just tested it with a couple hornworms, they demolished the leaf LOL it was a tiny one though but they seemed to like it!

 

[NickTide]

I acnt remember if it was silks or horns or both... but someone will eat grated carrots as a sub as well.

 

[M I K E Y]

Repashy SuperHorn Hornworm Gutload Diet.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

In a pinch it is better to feed vegetables to hornworms! Carrots, carrot greens, zucchini and lettuce works for them. The sap off the mulberry tree (also found in the leaves) causes blood sugar changes in hornworms that will eventually cause them to die! Kind of like a diabetic taking too much insulin.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

The basic ingredients of hornworm chow is: wheat germ and nutritional yeast. They use agar as a gelifying agent in it. Other additives I have seen were: soy flower, vitamins, antibiotics and antifungals.

 

[bloftis1]

Thank you for the info, this is going to be really helpful!! @Matt Vanilla Gorilla

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

They are still a bug I want to breed in the future. I just have not had success wit wing development after they pupate and emerge so I gave up for now but I did read many, many articles on them!

 

[dshuld]

They are still a bug I want to breed in the future. I just have not had success wit wing development after they pupate and emerge so I gave up for now but I did read many, many articles on them!

Since moving them to the taller tub the one male that has hatched was successful in it's wing development. It was cool seeing it flutter its wings to dry them. Sadly no females hatched after several days of waiting so he became a snack. Still lots of pupae to hatch yet but hopefully opposite sexes hatch close to the same time next round lol.

 

[todd2010]

This hobby is terrible. Now I want to raise hornworms as well. When does it stop! lol

 

[dshuld]

This hobby is terrible. Now I want to raise hornworms as well. When does it stop! lol

Never . I'm currently raising my own: two different types of fruit flies, bean beatles, superworms and superworm beatles, discoids and have some where around 40/ 50 hawk moth pupea I'm waiting on to hatch lol. I gave up on breeding my own bsfl after starting with 2000 just for the breeding project and oddly I was also unsuccessful with silkworms getting past their first two weeks of life after hatching .

 

[dshuld]

Repashy SuperHorn Hornworm Gutload Diet.

I had originally planned on using this if I can get my breeding project going. I have since changed my mind due to experiences with two other repashy products. I'll stick the bagged kind or see if I can talk @Matt Vanilla Gorilla into a powdered concoction at some point lol.

 

[NickTide]

This hobby is terrible. Now I want to raise hornworms as well. When does it stop! lol

Usually after the second bankruptcy.

 

[Debbie23]

Never . I'm currently raising my own: two different types of fruit flies, bean beatles, superworms and superworm beatles, discoids and have some where around 40/ 50 hawk moth pupea I'm waiting on to hatch lol. I gave up on breeding my own bsfl after starting with 2000 just for the breeding project and oddly I was also unsuccessful with silkworms getting past their first two weeks of life after hatching .

May I ask where you purchased your bean nettles from please.

 

[dshuld]

May I ask where you purchased your bean nettles from please.

I got mine from @Matt Vanilla Gorilla. I think tc insects advertised 32oz cups of them for $8.50 though. I'll see if I can find it again.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/518076228236475?view=permalink&id=2346584238718989

 

[insectovore]

I WISH horn worms were easier to mass produce. A lot of my reptiles like them and they get good size but the cost means they will just remain a snack. I wonder if you could breed them outside during good weather in cages?