Silkworm moths not breeding?

[bluesoda025]

I have some silkworm cocoons which I reserved for breeding, and several of them have emerged within the past few days. The only thing is.. they're not moving. At all! Not even the males. The females just sit there (which, from what I understood is what they are supposed to be doing anyways). But I was under the impression that the males would walk around looking for the females at least? Well, none of the males are moving either! I find this very strange. What could be causing them to not be mating? And yes, they are alive. They do respond when I touch them.

 

[invictusrules]

Are you 100% sure you have males and females? Every male I've ever seen acts kinda frenzied if there's a female nearby - wings flapping, crawling non-stop. How about temps?

 

[bluesoda025]

Yeah, there are males alright. The ones with the big wings? I'm pretty sure that I have 4 males and 3 females right now. As for temps, I don't actually have a thermometer nearby.. Maybe it's a bit on the low side? What are the optimal temps? I do have a ceramic heat emitter above for extra heat, but it may be a bit high up and not creating that much heat. However, if I clip the CHE on one level lower, it might get too hot, but I'll give that a try perhaps.

 

[invictusrules]

Females can have larger wings, too. Their abdomens are usually a lot wider/fatter, though not always. I've had batches where the males and females looked a lot alike except for the crazy-flutter by the males. They can't resist the ladies! :wink:

Best temps are above 75. For great info, read the best silkworm info ever here: http://www.wormspit.com/bombyxsilkworms.htm

 

[bluesoda025]

Oh! :shock: Well, I'm not 100% sure then. I'll try to post some pics when I get home tonight. I sure hope I don't have all females. :lol:
I kept thinking the ones with the beautiful wings were the males. However, their bodies are similarly sized as the females'. Although, you could clearly see eggs in the females' bodies whereas I don't think you can with the mystery "males." Are the bodies of males a lot smaller than females, or just a tad? I will also check the temps when I get home.

 

[bluesoda025]

Okay, I did some reading about this, and apparently the biggest caterpillars are the ones that turn into females. Well, trying to be clever, I thought I would breed the biggest worms, LOL. I guess that was a bad idea, because I could potentially have all females now. -_-;

 

[invictusrules]

I hadn't heard that before. Makes sense, though, considering how HUGE some of the females are when they emerge. Mothra move over!

It does sound like you've got all girls. I remember another post from someone who had all males or females - can't remember which. But if the big cats make females, then I'll bet it was females. So much for "natural" selection. :lol:

 

[bluesoda025]

So much for "natural" selection. :lol:

I know, right? Naturally, I was thinking the biggest worms would breed the biggest and best eaters.
Yeah, I read that the females are the bigger worms because they have the highest energy, which is required for laying all those eggs, or something. Well, so far, that theory seems to be holding! I examined the moths more closely when I got home and I have a feeling they are all females. They all have that organ protruding from their butts (only females have that, right?) and I see a lot of unfertilized eggs scattered everywhere. It's just that some of them look so super different from another that I thought they were different genders. Of the 16 cocoons, the 8 of them that have emerged seem to be females, which is a bad sign already. Better luck next time, I guess. Unless, for some reason, I get all males with my luck. :roll: