Rearing and Breeding hornworms

[pigglett79]

Hello,

I have a new blog for rearing and breeding hornworms. You can click the link here or the link in my signature. I hope you find this helpful.

Which came first, the hornworm or the egg?

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Really great blog, gonna use it to raise my own! Thank you!

 

[pigglett79]

Thank you. I am happy to help. I had a hard time finding breeding info so I thought it would be nice to provide my methods to others.

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

I will be using it as the 'hornworm bible' when I start breeding my own.

 

[kjcams]

WOW! That was some GREAT info. Thank you very much!! I have been searching the internet for 2 weeks now looking for information and pictures about this process and you pretty much answered all my questions

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Great blog! Question though... Has anyone ever moved them(and the dirt) once they have pupated? I have an exo terra I let my last batch pupate in and I need the exo now...

 

[pssh]

Yes you can move them. It wont bother them unless you squish them. They move around naturally in their little 'burrows' in the wild. You can even ship them!

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Yes you can move them. It wont bother them unless you squish them. They move around naturally in their little 'burrows' in the wild. You can even ship them!

Interesting! Thanks Kara!

 

[pigglett79]

Yeah I move them and they are fine.

 

[Rambully]

Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together... It is really helpful!!!

 

[pigglett79]

Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together... It is really helpful!!!

You are very welcome. I am happy to help. I am hoping to have some time to do the same for silk worms, although there are already threads/ blogs w lots of information out there for silks.

 

[Raphael1047]

Question...

Is there a way to tell when the moths are ready to come out of their pupate stage. I have noticed darker spots in where the eyes are supposed to be, I dont know if that was there before though. It has been a few weeks.

 

[pigglett79]

I haven't really figured out the best way to tell. I have observed a thinning of the shell towards then end, allowing me to see the moth inside better. I also haven't really been able to pin point timing. Sometimes I get them in 3 weeks, and now I have some that have been pupated for over 4 weeks. I think the ones that came out in 3 weeks were consistently at a higher temp. I had a computer folding in the room and it was always in the mid 80's. Now the temp fluctuates quite a bit and they are taking longer.

 

[laurie]

I haven't really figured out the best way to tell. I have observed a thinning of the shell towards then end, allowing me to see the moth inside better. I also haven't really been able to pin point timing. Sometimes I get them in 3 weeks, and now I have some that have been pupated for over 4 weeks. I think the ones that came out in 3 weeks were consistently at a higher temp. I had a computer folding in the room and it was always in the mid 80's. Now the temp fluctuates quite a bit and they are taking longer.

Mine are taking a long time and I hate to wait. maybe I can put them in the oven?? I knew you would say no. I will move them to the other cham room it stays warmer.

 

[Raphael1047]

I haven't really figured out the best way to tell. I have observed a thinning of the shell towards then end, allowing me to see the moth inside better. I also haven't really been able to pin point timing. Sometimes I get them in 3 weeks, and now I have some that have been pupated for over 4 weeks. I think the ones that came out in 3 weeks were consistently at a higher temp. I had a computer folding in the room and it was always in the mid 80's. Now the temp fluctuates quite a bit and they are taking longer.

Thank you for the quick reply, mine has been pupating for like 4 weeks so i think they will come out soon. If you have time can you post some picture of a freshly pupated one, just to compare to mine. No rush though! Thanks again!

 

[pigglett79]

OK, the two on the left are brand new, just pupated in the last couple days, you can even see a little green still. the two in the middle are around a week old and the two on the right are 4 weeks old.

 

[pigglett79]

Mine are taking a long time and I hate to wait. maybe I can put them in the oven?? I knew you would say no. I will move them to the other cham room it stays warmer.

LOL, yeah actually if you really want to speed it up put them in the microwave! LOL.

^^^just kidding people, please don't try this!

 

[Raphael1047]

OK, the two on the left are brand new, just pupated in the last couple days, you can even see a little green still. the two in the middle are around a week old and the two on the right are 4 weeks old.

View attachment 67250

Thank you for the picture, but honestly i see there is no difference between them Thanks again though.

 

[pigglett79]

OK, I just checked an 1 moth hatched. It has been 4 weeks and 2 days.

 

[Action Jackson]

I'm trying to raise some. I have 6 pupa. I had more. I'm still trying to clean the microwave out.