Silkworm journey

I am very jealous of this success you are having @redhorse. I feel like I would not have the patience for this, and would end up failing. I am kind of late to the party but thanks for this thread
 
I am very jealous of this success you are having @redhorse. I feel like I would not have the patience for this, and would end up failing. I am kind of late to the party but thanks for this thread
Patience or not, it is always okay to give something a shot. Go into it with the idea that even if you don't succeed (which I think you will) the 1st step with the attempt is the success.

Well, I said the eggs would be "Free" to anyone that wants them, with a little help with the mail cost. So if anyone is serious, just drop an address in the "conversations mail" (no need for name or personal stuff for privacy reasons). I have no idea if they are going to hatch but 100% know that I don't want them all. :) This means who asks for some will have to come up with the food source.
 
It's great to see you invest so much interest in this. Funny how there's always some stragglers at the end. I often have just one caterpillar left after all others have cocooned. Its sad because if it takes too long, it might hatch well after its siblings have passed away with no one for it to mate with. That happened once or twice in my experience.
Let's all place bets on which gender will hatch from each cocoon! (just kidding)
If you are giving away eggs in the future, I would gladly take some. I want to diversify my silks gene pool in the future. Plus you will know that your little guys are going to be loved and become part of a little family.
I live in Quebec, Canada.
This is even sadder. I have a female moth who has been waiting 3 days for someone else to emerge. Today I knew I was going to have to feed her off before she dies...I went to get her, and she is busily laying her infertile eggs.
 
@redhorse You're welcome for the new word. Thanks for the shout out.

@dinomom That is sad to see. It's like they give up when they realize it isn't going to happen for them.
That, and their strong biological imperative to reproduce no matter what. I will say that it is so wonderful to be involved with a group of people that actually CARE about the life of one little bug. Says a lot about how compassionate we all are about animals.
 
That, and their strong biological imperative to reproduce no matter what. I will say that it is so wonderful to be involved with a group of people that actually CARE about the life of one little bug. Says a lot about how compassionate we all are about animals.
That's a wonderful thing to say. I feel the same way. I love having silkworms.

I had one female who came out too early, dumped her eggs, only for the males to emerge a few days later. She ended up mating, but it was probably for nothing. At least she got to experience it.

@redhorse, Since you have a lot of eggs, I'd put them in the fridge IF they go into diapause. It'll buy you some time. They are in diapause if they turn black around three days after being laid.
 
We had to do an emergency evac. this evening. She expelled her cocoonase in the middle, what was she thinking? After opening it up, she was waiting for the top to open. Pretty sure she would not have made it (practicing what others have taught me).

Yeah- I felt like a Dr. doing surgery.. (y)

Still waiting for that ginormous cocoon (or two) to hatch..
 

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Ha! Sometimes they do the strangest things. Keep an eye on the double cocoon; I've read that sometimes if they are opposite sexes they might just mate while they are in there...and never bother to emerge. Mine didn't do that, they made a big mess and I opened the cocoon for them and then they mated.
 
Just a quick update-
The ginormous one is actually 2 inside.. I candle all kind of egg so figured try the cocoon. Duh me- It worked, wow. 😵

This means I can tell if their pupa or moth and if they need help. "dropping the mic" boom!

The last picture is of all the males and females after doing their business in the deli-cups.
 

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That, and their strong biological imperative to reproduce no matter what. I will say that it is so wonderful to be involved with a group of people that actually CARE about the life of one little bug. Says a lot about how compassionate we all are about animals.
I may take things a bit to the crazy side with my silks & moths. When I have to clean their little bin and move them to fresh food, if there are 2 or more that are on top of each other when they don’t have to be, I make sure to keep them together...maybe they’re friends? After the ladies have finished mating and laying their eggs, so they don’t die alone I gather them in a little group. Why yes, I do anthropomorphize all creatures. 😊
 
Yeah! I was pretty clueless when I started (as you can tell). I just shared a video of one of the moths laying eggs sharing some info and making it personal to the class (hi Mr. _____ class my name is _______) to a sixth grade teacher who was giving a lesson on the Silk Road

NOTE: The Silk Road was and is a network of trade routes connecting the East and West, and was central to the economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions from the 2nd century BCE to the 18th century. (google).

Now he wants a full blown PowerPoint to share if he can fit it into the day. The class is history not science- but it opens the door if they want either for next year.. LOVE this stuff - even if it is learn as we go.

Unfortunately there are only a few days left in class so he is not 100% sure there is time.

Just wanted to share what fertile mixed with infertile eggs looked like. I am guessing- :)

Update in 20 minute---- AmandaS you will get your answer
 

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I thought the other were cute challenged, I may have to think things over... Are they even moths? Just kidding
Yes!
So, I saw the brown and figured they needed help. They did and it was given and soon after they thanked me with a squirt or warm brown sh*&. Poop for those under 18.
I put them on the ground and it was like they already were getting their groove on in the cocoon. These are cute and wing challenged but do what they were genetically altered to do. (y)

UPDATE! 1 slacker has cocooned while the other two are enjoying some fresh chow. AKA num num
 

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I thought the other were cute challenged, I may have to think things over... Are they even moths? Just kidding
Yes!
So, I saw the brown and figured they needed help. They did and it was given and soon after they thanked me with a squirt or warm brown sh*&. Poop for those under 18.
I put them on the ground and it was like they already were getting their groove on in the cocoon. These are cute and wing challenged but do what they were genetically altered to do. (y)

UPDATE! 1 slacker has cocooned while the other two are enjoying some fresh chow. AKA num num
Ugly little babies...but I'm so happy for them!
 
Funny how both your double and my double both had one male and one female each. It's almost like they know....
They lost some hair because they were having some trouble getting out, I guess. Happens with mine whenever they have more trouble, even if they get out on their own.
We had one that lost so much hair, my boyfriend said to name him Kojax. Here he is:

DSC02253.JPG
 
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