Hornworms

[Trillian]

Went through my first pod so quickly, so got two this time, but the caterpillars are all HUGE, they are just over a foot long, I MAY be exaggerating a little. Can I refrigerate them? Do they at least turn into something that my scaly guys can eat? Tried the female geckos with a smaller one last night, but they had the same reaction as the boy, crawled up to it really slowly, squeaking, licked it's face, then ran away. Bet if I dipped it in fruit puree they'd eat it quick enough.

 

[monstertankman]

Yes you can put them in the refrigderator . Keep them in this cycle 2 days in the frig ..one day out..thats the cycle greatlakes hornworms suggested.

 

[carol5208]

put them in a little container of dirt and they should burrow down in there and pupate. They will then turn into a very good size moth that you can feed to your chameleon. I have not hatched out any recently but the cocoons take about 3 weeks to hatch if I remember right.

 

[pigglett79]

The moths are HUGE! 6 inch wing span. Last time I got hornworms I ordered eggs from great lakes hornworms. Turns out to be much more cost effective as they start out very small. I was putting them in the frig at night and taking them out in the day. Started breeding them and they take forever to pupate. Also the moths need a screen cage w humming bird feeder to eat in order to breed. They also need a tomato plant near by to get them to lay eggs.

 

[Trillian]

That's huge!!! No way any of my guys would eat that. Half the worms are already 3 inches, guess they'll just need to be pets!

 

[pssh]

Don't release them! I don't think you would, but anyone who is thinking about it, DONT. They are a pest.

The wing span is large (not more than, at the most, 5 inches but it's usually smaller) but the body is much smaller and that is the part that matters. The body is usually about 1/2" wide and maybe 2" long, so if any of your animals can handle the body, don't worry about the wings. The wings just fold up in the mouth once they snag it.

 

[carol5208]

I have never had a hornworm moth with a wingspan of 6 inches of even close. Maybe mine were runts then!. I would not have suggested feeding them if that were the case!!!

 

[pssh]

Yours probably weren't runts, but it might have been from them eating chow instead of their natural plants.

 

[Kate]

That's huge!!! No way any of my guys would eat that. Half the worms are already 3 inches, guess they'll just need to be pets!

Oh TrillIan you are a softy at heart.lol

 

[pigglett79]

The wing span is pretty large. I will spread some out on a ruler, but they do get up to 6 inches. the pic below is in a cage that is medium in size. You can see from the closed wings and body how large they are. And in comparison to the plants and humming bird feeder.

View attachment 59728

Edit: and These just emerged so they haven't opened their wings all the way yet.

 

[pigglett79]

Its getting more crowded! We now have four moths. Not sure how to sex them though so I will just watch for eggs.

View attachment 59821

 

[Trillian]

The monsters ...

Can I just put them in a shoebox filled with dirt to get them to pupate? Found one small enough to feed Ivy!

 

[pigglett79]

I use any small container and fill it w that Eco earth. Then I mist it every day or every other day to keep moist.

 

[chameleoman]

make it loose but clumpy at the same time you dont want it packed some of mine i jet let them pupate in the pod

 

[pigglett79]

Up to 5 moths now from the 8 cocoons. They were mating last night. I hope we get eggs!

 

[pigglett79]

Here is a video of them eating from the hummingbird feeders so you know what you are getting yourself in to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aOhLABpZpQ&feature=youtu.be


Oh and no one ever mentions it, but when they first emerge they spray this yellow/white liquid EVERYWHERE! Its on the screen of the cage, the stand and my walls. Its a real mess!

 

[Trillian]

How long do they take to pupate? I put them in a box of dirt and some burrowed, but I can see through the base they are just curled up. The ones on top aren't doing much either. I'm checking on them once every couple of days at the moment. There are a few chunks of chow in there in case any of them weren't ready, but they were all at least as big as my chubby fingers...