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Ok, silk moths hatching from thier cacoons. What to do now? Do i need to seperate newly hatched from others or just leave them?
First go around with these so asking how to proceed. Thanks ahead for the guidence.
adult silk moths like most moths do not have and cannot form working mouth parts, they live for a span of days but have enough energy to only mate before they die... no time for dating am i right?!Are you trying to mate them?
They only live for a few hours, or days. I forget. They are like Soldier flys, they don't eat, they don't drink, they just mate, lay, and die.
im not too sure on silk moths but i used to work at a butterfly house and how we got ours ready is once theyre hatched, give them 4-5 hours to dry their wings then move them to a separate container which then you can use to release them into their own space where they can breed and lay eggs.
remember to have their host plant in there as moths will only lay on a host plant for optimal chance at survival for their young (thats what i heard but not too sure) and remember to keep an eye out for dead moths because they only live a short while.
edit: back when i was in the butterfly house, without the host plant, butterflies wouldnt lay eggs.
Your not fitting a mulberry tree in the house lol.
Silks don't need that anyway, they will lay on a piece of paper. They will emerge on the same paper.
You out the cocoons on paper, in a dish and that's it, they will take care of the rest. Silks have been domesciated, they cannot fly, they don't need their tree.
They are bred and harvested in Mass, for a very long time. For silk.
Here is a video, about the process for silks.
There is a part 1 but Op is already at part 2 .
i meant to bring in leaves of the tree lol maybe i need to be more specific please do not bring the tree inside!!! LOL
i only say that because butterflies and moths know what their host plants are, although ive seen moths that drop eggs anywhere.
Yes, they are hatching and this morning I noticed mating. I know they don't live long and just concerned about treatment of eggs.Are you trying to mate them?
They only live for a few hours, or days. I forget. They are like Soldier flys, they don't eat, they don't drink, they just mate, lay, and die.
Yes, they are hatching and this morning I noticed mating. I know they don't live long and just concerned about treatment of eggs.
These came from some on my last order of feeders. Thanks for the info
Terrible what we do to some things for our benefit huh?Ya I know .
Its not needed for silks though, Silkworm do not even exist in the wild anymore I dont think, Silkworms have been bred and captives, and domesticated since 2696 BC. We are talking, almost 5000 years of these things, being bred as captives. They have lost the ability to fly due to this, and lost the requirement for mulberry leaves to lay(they still eat mulberry, as we all know), they mate and die, very very quickly. If they make it that far , most are not allowed to emerge, once the cocoon is done, the worm boiled alive (the entire cocoon) and the silk is processed (spun off). The cocoon is what our Silk fabrics are made from.
People have over 1000s of years, destroyed these insects will to fight, or any type of instinct at all. These poor creatures, dont fit the normal rules, due to thousands of years, of retraining evolution to fit our needs, to make a product.
we have even found ways to dye the worm, so the silk comes out pre dyed. The feed dyes to the worms, so that they will produce a colored silk.
Terrible what we do to some things for our benefit huh?
Ahh, good info. My first go at this and need all the tips I can get. Didn't really plan on raising any but since it just happened I figured I'd give it a go. Any particular temp for the fridge? What would be the soonest they can be put out to hatch.The key is to keep the female contained to a small area or she will randomly lay eggs. I use a paper towel roll to keep her from going all over the place. Also, let them sit out until they turn a gray color and then put them in the fridge. I leave mine in for a couple months, just write the date on a plastic bag. Here is my current set up.
I move the moths i to a seperate container because if they lay eggs on the cocoons its a real pita. Also, I highly recommend lining the bins with wax paper instead of paper towels! It is much cleaner.
Moths will live a few days. Usually they start looking rough by day 3, but males that havent mated seem to do well beyond that.
I have them on parchment paper now. Thanks for the tip. When they are on thier last day, would it be good food for the cham?I move the moths i to a seperate container because if they lay eggs on the cocoons its a real pita. Also, I highly recommend lining the bins with wax paper instead of paper towels! It is much cleaner.
Moths will live a few days. Usually they start looking rough by day 3, but males that havent mated seem to do well beyond that.
I have them on parchment paper now. Thanks for the tip. When they are on thier last day, would it be good food for the cham?
If you cut open a cacoon will it continue to develop?absolutely! my chams love them! be aware, though, they tend to squirt guts all over the place. so put it on a branch and stand back!
If you cut open a cacoon will it continue to develop?