Rearing Sphingicampa bicolor

After successfully rearing several different species of Lepidoptera, I took a notion to try a new species because I wanted a challenge. This past spring I collected several Sphingicampa bicolor at my sheet, including a few females. I placed two (females) in glassine envelopes, and they oviposited the first night. So I located several Honey Locust trees, the host plant). After about a week and 1/2, I noticed tiny larvae with long appendages protruding from their heads. I immediatly started them on the Honey Locust and kept them sleeved throughout their development. With the good advice of Evan (evra), I placed them in a screened enclosure, on cuttings with about four inches of fresh topsoil in the bottom, in their final days before pupating. I actually witnessed them burrowing in the soil to pupate. Three weeks later the first adults eclosed successfully. I think I will try another brood of them since I have several ova now. Tom