Rearing and Breeding hornworms

After you collect the eggs should I put them in a petri dish? And can you store them until ready for use or do I need to get them in containers right away? Loved your blog and I can't wait to start my hornworms!
 
Chameleon Caretaker said:
After you collect the eggs should I put them in a petri dish? And can you store them until ready for use or do I need to get them in containers right away? Loved your blog and I can't wait to start my hornworms!
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The eggs can't be stored, you can just put them in the container you plan to raise them in right away and they will hatch in 3-5 days. Just be sure they have a way to get to the food.
 
OK I did some more research and I have found that lighting does matter for the pupae.

The pupal stage lasts approximately 18 days under laboratory conditions (17 hours light, 7 hours dark, 27 °C, about 80 F). When reared on a short-day photoperiod (12 hours light, 12 hours dark), pupae enter a state of diapause that can last several months.

I haven't ever tried to vary the light, but will do so going forward. I will convert to a 17hr light cycle and see if that speeds up the process.
 
That seems odd to me since they dig into the ground to pupate. How would they get access to the sunlight?
 
pssh said:
That seems odd to me since they dig into the ground to pupate. How would they get access to the sunlight?
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Yeah seems weird to me too, I figured it would be more about temperature. However many people are having a hard time getting pupae to hatch right now and the days are short. I have some that are going on 6 weeks as well now. I am going to put a light over them on a 17 hr day cycle and see what happens. It's worth looking in to, especially if I get can these things to append up. I also have some worms that just went in to the dirt so this will be a good time to put them on a long day cycle and see how long they take to turn in to moths.
 
Ok! thank you! I thought that light cycle info was for the moths to breed.... lol I will try that on the pupae! And what substrate do u use? Mine are currently sitting on top of a paper towel that is on top of peat moss. I mist it at least 4 times per week in hopes that the wings are not deformed when they emerge
 
kjcams said:
Ok! thank you! I thought that light cycle info was for the moths to breed.... lol I will try that on the pupae! And what substrate do u use? Mine are currently sitting on top of a paper towel that is on top of peat moss. I mist it at least 4 times per week in hopes that the wings are not deformed when they emerge
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I use Eco earth, but almost any substrate should be fine. I mist them daily, but as long as they are moist they should be fine. I set up some lights on a timer today and I will let you know how it goes.
 
I wonder if it makes a difference if they are actually in the dirt or out in the open? Like if some were allowed to pupate in soil and left (not moving the container as it could cause the little chambers they make to collapse, and I dont know if that would cause problems or not) and then the light is put over them and then some others from the same batch were left on paper towels to hatch with the light over them.
 
Well I am going to run an experiment. I have two containers of pupae that are going on 6 weeks. 1 I have added a light to and the other I will leave as is. I also have some worms that are just starting to pupate. I put them under the light and will see how long it takes on a 17 hr day to turn to moths.
 
Definitely report back on your findings! I am interested to learn about the light cycles. I've only ever read about the light affecting the pupae/diapause time when it is used on the L5 worms. I also haven't done a ton of research on them though.
 
Any luck with the light cycles? I'm still waiting on mine :( we are going on 8 weeks and i have lost about 5 so far. Getting very frustrated....
 
kjcams said:
Any luck with the light cycles? I'm still waiting on mine :( we are going on 8 weeks and i have lost about 5 so far. Getting very frustrated....
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Not yet. I have the lights on a timer last 17 hr days and still no moths. I also put lights over my last worms right as they began to pupate. We shall see what happens.
 
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