Silk moths getting lose?

[daddyburgi]

I was thinking of raising silk worms but one concern my fiance has is the moths getting lose. I would be using a 20 gallon long tank with a screen top. How often do the moths get lose and how easy are they to catch?

 

[hammerhead]

The moth can't fly and only live a couple days. Once they emerge from their cocoon a pair needs to be isolated as many males go crazy over one females. I would pair a male and female under a clear plastic cup where they would mate, the male would die first, then the female would lay the eggs on the wax paper. I kept mine in a plastic container with 4 inch sides and no cover and only a few climbed out and didn't go far. My cats loved to eat them too.
http://s943.photobucket.com/albums/ad275/hammerhead_bucket_photos/silkworm%20moths/?action=view&current=M2U00049.flv
http://s943.photobucket.com/albums/ad275/hammerhead_bucket_photos/silkworm%20moths/?action=view&current=M2U00054.flv

 

[daddyburgi]

The moth can't fly and only live a couple days. Once they emerge from their cocoon a pair needs to be isolated as many males go crazy over one females. I would pair a male and female under a clear plastic cup where they would mate, the male would die first, then the female would lay the eggs on the wax paper. I kept mine in a plastic container with 4 inch sides and no cover and only a few climbed out and didn't go far. My cats loved to eat them too.
http://s943.photobucket.com/albums/ad275/hammerhead_bucket_photos/silkworm%20moths/?action=view&current=M2U00049.flv
http://s943.photobucket.com/albums/ad275/hammerhead_bucket_photos/silkworm%20moths/?action=view&current=M2U00054.flv

Excellent news. Thanks for the info and i will check out the videos.

 

[hammerhead]

Here is a good website: http://www.wormspit.com/bombyxsilkworms.htm

 

[invictusrules]

One look at the fuzzy, anime-cute faces of your moths, and your fiancee will fall in love with them! :love5:

 

[hammerhead]

Wait till you feel how soft they are and the tickle you get from the wing flapping. My daughter ( 7 years old) would have them climbing on her all the time. I got to the 4th generation of breeding them, then stopped once the fall/winter came as the mulberry trees lost their leaves and didn't want to buy any more silkworm chow. I even had to take them on vacation to Cape Cod with the family as they need to eat alot as silkworms. My wife wasn't too pleased about it, even more when our brand new Toyota Sienna had silkworms climbing everywhere when the container dumped over on the drive home.

 

[invictusrules]

My wife wasn't too pleased about it, even more when our brand new Toyota Sienna had silkworms climbing everywhere when the container dumped over on the drive home.

:laughhard: :laughhard: :laughhard: :laughhard:
Been there, done that, only substitute "Gulf fritillaries" for "silkworm" and "church" for the car part.