Post by jennam on Oct 22, 2012 12:27:38 GMT -8
My apologies if this is a riddiculous question, but it's good to have input from others.
We have some Rothchildia caterpillars now, and out of 7, 5 have spun... one is alot smaller, so he's a way off, and one is huge. They have been doing extremely well on Privet.
However... the large one, who has always been the biggest, even at the the point all the others spun, just eats an eats. I have never seen a Rothschildia caterpillar get this big. We were concerned that he wasnt spinning.
This evening he has excreted a massive amount of clear fluid. Whilst the others did a small amount just before spinning, this is something else!
Could this be simply because he is that much bigger? Or is it possible that this caterpillar isnt going to spin at all? Can the transformation process even happen outside of a cocoon?
After the Atlas moth caterpillar disaster (all died of virus as per my previous posts - have since been told they are extremely difficult to rear), ive been very careful with the Privet being clean and fresh and dry.
Has anyone ever come across a caterpillar that didnt spin??
I realise my two threads on this forum have been about issues... we do successfully rear many other caterpillars and moths, and will be sure to contribute photos and happier posts soon
We have some Rothchildia caterpillars now, and out of 7, 5 have spun... one is alot smaller, so he's a way off, and one is huge. They have been doing extremely well on Privet.
However... the large one, who has always been the biggest, even at the the point all the others spun, just eats an eats. I have never seen a Rothschildia caterpillar get this big. We were concerned that he wasnt spinning.
This evening he has excreted a massive amount of clear fluid. Whilst the others did a small amount just before spinning, this is something else!
Could this be simply because he is that much bigger? Or is it possible that this caterpillar isnt going to spin at all? Can the transformation process even happen outside of a cocoon?
After the Atlas moth caterpillar disaster (all died of virus as per my previous posts - have since been told they are extremely difficult to rear), ive been very careful with the Privet being clean and fresh and dry.
Has anyone ever come across a caterpillar that didnt spin??
I realise my two threads on this forum have been about issues... we do successfully rear many other caterpillars and moths, and will be sure to contribute photos and happier posts soon
