ConfusedHornwormGuy
Avid Member
I have been recently trying to start a hornworm culture, this recent batch unfortunately wont work, I ordered about 25 hornworms, only 3 survived to burrow, all 3 burrowed but this is where I get confused, I can't wrap my head around where 2 of these worms that burrowed went. I was hoping someone here with experience in culturing hornworms might help explain.
To recap 3 hornworms survived, I watched 3 of them burrow into a small flower pot that I have inside of a mesh enclosure. It would've been impossible for these worms to hatch and escape, I only have 1 viable hawk moth pupa and the other 2 disappeared. I dug up the flower pot in its entirety, there is only 1 pupa that came out, the other 2 worms literally disappeared.
I looked all over the enclosure because there isn't really a place where they could hide, and these other 2 worms are gone.
How is it possible for 3 viable goliath hornworms to burrow, and for only 1 to pupate? Why isn't there a carcass or body for the other 2 worms? Did they die? Did one of the worms eat the other 2?
They didn't pupate, they literally disappeared, I only have 1 viable pupa from these 3 worms.
How is it possible for 3 worms to burrow in a locked enclosure and for 2 of them to completely disappear, no carcass or anything?
If there are any other details I can provide, feel free to ask. My fiancee and I are at a loss, I'm so confused.
To recap 3 hornworms survived, I watched 3 of them burrow into a small flower pot that I have inside of a mesh enclosure. It would've been impossible for these worms to hatch and escape, I only have 1 viable hawk moth pupa and the other 2 disappeared. I dug up the flower pot in its entirety, there is only 1 pupa that came out, the other 2 worms literally disappeared.
I looked all over the enclosure because there isn't really a place where they could hide, and these other 2 worms are gone.
How is it possible for 3 viable goliath hornworms to burrow, and for only 1 to pupate? Why isn't there a carcass or body for the other 2 worms? Did they die? Did one of the worms eat the other 2?
They didn't pupate, they literally disappeared, I only have 1 viable pupa from these 3 worms.
How is it possible for 3 worms to burrow in a locked enclosure and for 2 of them to completely disappear, no carcass or anything?
If there are any other details I can provide, feel free to ask. My fiancee and I are at a loss, I'm so confused.