[Guide] Hornworms and Breeding.

[junebug82]

I'm in the middle of an attempt to breed hornworms we put 6 hornworms in vermiculite on august 9th. We have all 6 of them in the same "shoe box plastic bin"
We will be ordering dry food and cups from rob for the eggs/small guys. We are making a bigger container for when the worms get really big

 

[BOSSdabeardie]

I am about to start this process. When i order eggs and cups with food do i just put the eggs in the cup or is there something special. I found a site that sells cages for moths and butterflies. Is it a good idea to use on e of those. http://educationalscience.com/hawkmothkits.htm

 

[forum1983]

I am about to start this process. When i order eggs and cups with food do i just put the eggs in the cup or is there something special. I found a site that sells cages for moths and butterflies. Is it a good idea to use on e of those. http://educationalscience.com/hawkmothkits.htm

as far as the eggs in the cup question... the food sits in the bottom of the cup and is solid, and as you may know the cup sits upside down leaving the food at the top, the worms simply climb up the mesh to the food and their poo fall down onto the lid (which makes it easy to clean). Just place the eggs on in the center of the lid and carefully put the cup on top of the lid until it closes. The eggs are very light and can move around quite easily when the container is moved or bumped. I try to keep the eggs in the center of the lid cause if you ever have to open the container before all the eggs hatch then some of the eggs may fall into the seal of the lid and then you'll have to get them out. But generally all the eggs will hatch before you need to clean the poo out for the first time. as far as a cage for the moths, I believe most of us here have just made our own, it's pretty easy and cheap to do and there are many different ways to do it. You can check out my threads as I too have a guide of sorts on breading these guys, I have uploaded pictures of my process.

Good Luck!

 

[BOSSdabeardie]

Would a 20 gallon tank be big enough standing on its side.

 

[fc3schick87]

Would a 20 gallon tank be big enough standing on its side.

yes, i am actually using plastic bins placed on their side. you want something easy to get into with smooth surface so you can harvest the eggs. a 20 gallon tank may be a tiny bit narrow for the moths to fly around in but its plenty tall enough. try going to the store and spending about 12$ on a plastic sterilite tub i think they are 32 quart the ones i use. i cut holes using a 3 inch hole cutter for my drill, then hot glue screen to the holes.



also, you do not have to place the plant inside with the moths. the plant can be on the outside so long as they can smell it they will lay eggs everywhere. that way you dont have to pull eggs off the plant.




i have to ask, what happen to this write up? why did it never get finished by june? its october!!!


i do have one question really.... what humidity should the pupa be kept at. and can i use medium i would use to incubate eggs? what is to moist, what is to dry. please some one let me know what humidity should the pupa be kept at.