Hornworm Eggs

[DragonJosh]

As a holiday gift to my spoiled beardies (lol) I ordered 50 hornworm eggs from Great Lake Hornworms. Has anyone messed with hornworms before and care to share experience? How long did it take for them to hatch? Thanks!

 

[DragonJosh]

I also asked Great Lakes Hornworms and here is the answer I got in case anyone was wondering. They're also fast on response and customer service as I noticed that 3 of my lids for the housing cups provided were accidentally missing.

Hi Josh,

We will ship out the lids ASAP. For the time being after you put the food
in fold a paper towel in half and use a rubberband to secure it as a lid.
The eggs should take anywhere from 3-7 days to hatch. Let me know if you
need anything else. Thanks!

Rob

 

[mostlyharmlessnj]

That sounds about right if they are kept at a good temp, the cooler it is, the longer it took for them to hatch and grow. I got the best results keeping them on top of my viv where the ambient temperature is about 80. Also watch the FOOD... those little buggers can go through it pretty quick as they grow.

 

[DragonJosh]

Well the first one hatched yesterday, and so far 4 more have hatched today! They are tiny, and I hope they start growing fast as I've read about so maybe I can feed one or two to my beardies on Saturday.

 

[mostlyharmlessnj]

Well the first one hatched yesterday, and so far 4 more have hatched today! They are tiny, and I hope they start growing fast as I've read about so maybe I can feed one or two to my beardies on Saturday.

If you can keep them (my experience anyway) around 80 - 85, they grew in days to a usable size.

 

[jon21388]

i may have to pic of some of these hornworm eggs and try them out

 

[DragonJosh]

The ones that have hatched are coming around good so far I guess. I thought they were dead as they seemed to be in the same place every time I checked them and no visual moving, but I poked some and they started wiggling. I guess they are just eating the food non-stop lol. Very interesting insects..

 

[mostlyharmlessnj]

The ones that have hatched are coming around good so far I guess. I thought they were dead as they seemed to be in the same place every time I checked them and no visual moving, but I poked some and they started wiggling. I guess they are just eating the food non-stop lol. Very interesting insects..

They are basically greenish/bluish eating machines (color seems depends on the feed they are eating). If you get bored, and have an "extra" say about 1", throw it on the edge of some collar greens and watch how fast that leaf goes.

They do have an interesting texture to their bodies, always kind of reminded me of marshmallows, or that gum with the juice in the middle... (I think it was called freshen up), but I divert...

 

[DragonJosh]

I'll have to try the greens thing when they get bigger. I think they are moving so slow is because the temperature in the room they are in is about 70. Also the 3 lids came in yesterday. They have plenty of holes in the plastic, and what appears to be some type of white breathable fiberglass cloth material.