Fernando
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Post by Fernando on May 31, 2011 15:59:39 GMT -8
Dear people,
How long should they take to molt into L2?
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Post by starlightcriminal on Jun 1, 2011 9:21:38 GMT -8
A. dubernardi is tricky and they don't eat Salix for sure (or anything else but Pinus sp. despite whatever suggested diet you may see online) according to my buddy who has a great deal of experience with this species. Try two needled pines I'm sure you read- use a cladogram of Pinaceae to determine which species in your area is most related to confirmed hosts as they will be the most likely to have overlapping chemical profiles. They refuse all types of pine from my area. I know for certain they will eat P. virginiana, P. nigra and P. sylvestris but all occur in cooler climates generally than here- they also refuse P. thunbergiana, a two needled pine which is more tolerant of inconsistent winter dormancy. Let us know how it goes though, especially in regards to diet, always interested to hear in case I am ever brave enough to attempt them.
Fernando, are you located in a temperate region?
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Post by starlightcriminal on Jun 1, 2011 9:23:27 GMT -8
Oops, I see you are in Chile. Elevation?
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Fernando
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Post by Fernando on Jun 1, 2011 11:21:28 GMT -8
Thanks for your reply, starlightcriminal Elevation here is about 150 m, and room temperature is between 12 ºC and 18 ºC. The caterpillars started dying so I thought it was because the Pinus radiata they were feeding on was too old. I went out and cut some fresh Pinus for them, but they refused to eat. After that I went out looking for something else and found what seems to be some kind of Picea (picture attached). I'm trying to feed them on this since 3 hours ago, but they hadn't eaten so far. Attachments:
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Post by saturniidave on Jun 1, 2011 14:07:26 GMT -8
I saw a report recently that they will eat Atlantic Cedar. I understand they also like it cool and very humid, are they maybe too hot and dry?
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Fernando
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Post by Fernando on Jun 1, 2011 16:48:03 GMT -8
I saw a report recently that they will eat Atlantic Cedar. I understand they also like it cool and very humid, are they maybe too hot and dry? Is this atlantic cedar (look at the attachment)? If so, then I have one in my backyard ;D I think it's a bit too late though, as all but one caterpillars have died already  I don't think it was because of the ambient conditions. The max temperature in my room has been 18 ºC, and the min 12 ºC. Also, I have kept them with good humidity. Maybe they just didn't like Pinus radiata. Attachments:
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Post by saturniidave on Jun 2, 2011 16:58:00 GMT -8
No Fernando, that looks more like a Cypress species. Cedrus atlantica is a N. African species widely planted as an ornamental tree all over the world. Google it up.
Sorry you are losing them, maybe you are right, they just don't like your pine.
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Fernando
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Post by Fernando on Jun 2, 2011 17:09:12 GMT -8
Oh, when I looked for "Atlantic cedar" on Google I found " Chamaecyparis thyoides", which is very similar to the one in my backyard (which by the way I already identified: "Platycladus orientalis"). But yes, Cedrus atlantica definitely has nothing to do with my cypress. I really hope I have the chance to rear A. dubernardi again in the future. I will use Abies in that case. |
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Post by starlightcriminal on Jun 3, 2011 10:31:11 GMT -8
That is not Taxodium (cypress) at all. Not needled. Looks like Juniperus or relative to me, it has scales, not pinnately arranged, opposite, needle-shaped leaves. Because of your location I couldn't say for certain but check into Juniperus species and relatives grown in your area, I am fairly confident you will be able to ID your tree there. The scales are a very good limiting character. Do you have any friends around the world that could send you seeds of any of the confirmed hosts? If you want to try again, my suggestion would be to get some quality host plant going now so that when you do get another opportunity you are ahead of the game. See if someone in the northern US or from Europe can send you Scotts pine (P. sylvetris) or Black Pine (P. nigra) cones (I would happily do so, but way too hot here for anything useful, I wouldn't be able to rear these either ). My guess for lack of success- not eating. I think you don't have a suitable host, the options you listed aren't very promising unfortunately. They're quite tricky due to general pickiness and hosting on conifers. |
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Fernando
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Post by Fernando on Jun 3, 2011 12:50:19 GMT -8
The tree in my backyard is Platycladus orientalis (I said it in my previous post  ) And yes, I do have friends in Wisconsin, France and Switzerland whom I could ask for seeds, so before getting eggs of this species again I'll make sure of having appropriate foodplants. Thanks for your reply! |
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Post by oehlkew on Jun 4, 2011 1:43:54 GMT -8
Regarding foodplants for Actias dubernardi:
The statement on WLSS that they accept willow (Salix) and several other deciduous trees, attributed to David Mohn, is in error.
I checked with David and he indicates he did not send that statement to me, so I must have confused it with something else when I posted it on WLSS. Perhaps that listing is for a different
Saturniidae species, but it does not apply to Actias dubernardi.
They are definite pine feeders, and possibly will utilize other conifers, and possibly even Larix, although ones fed on larix, so far as I have seen from photographs, have only made it to second instar. Another breeder has reported success on Larix, but I have not seen photos of fifth instars on that tree genus.
I have since removed the statement attributed to David as it did not come from him, and it is an error, my error.
There are excellent suggestions for rearing Actias dubernardi
in the article by Alan Marson on WLSS.
Bill Oehlke
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Fernando
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Post by Fernando on Jun 4, 2011 7:20:47 GMT -8
Thanks Bill!
As for Alan Marson's article, yes, I read it, very comprehensive. By the way, something that caught my attention in that article is that he says that rearing the larvae in cutted foodplant is doomed to failure, but I know that several people that have reared them using cutted foodplant.
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Post by oehlkew on Jun 4, 2011 12:28:25 GMT -8
Hi Fernando,
Alan has reported his experiences. That is largely all that you will read about Saturniidae, the experiences of others. Take them for what they are worth.
Bill Oehlke
PS.
If I had invested money in eggs of dubernardi, my first choice would be to rear them outdoors in sleeves over live hosts.
If I had no documented hosts in my area, I would probably try indoor rearing on live hosts grown from seed in pots.
You and others might have success growing them on cut food. Alan has shared his experience.
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Fernando
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Post by Fernando on Jun 4, 2011 19:09:58 GMT -8
Thank Bill! I was just confused about what Alan Marson said. By the way, the eggs came as a total surprise. They were sent to me by a friend's friend, who didn't tell me anything about it, so I was totally unprepared when I received them. Next time I'll be definitely prepared  |
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