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Post by mothman27 on Nov 15, 2016 8:43:51 GMT -8
I was wondering how deep caterpillars of Manduca sexta typically dig before pupating? The tomato plants in the garden were loaded with caterpillars so I was going to try to dig some pupae up. do they wander far from the plant or right at the base? Would digging with a shovel be the best method?
Thanks,
Tim
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Post by mothman27 on Nov 21, 2016 7:49:09 GMT -8
Nobody?
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 21, 2016 14:19:09 GMT -8
I have reared Many sphingids. Those that burrow usually are 6 to 8 inches under soul. When tearing sphingids I place the late in star larvae into 5 gallon plastic pails. I fill them with local soil or a top soil sand mix. After all the larvae disappear under ground, I simply wait two or three weeks, dump out the pail and sift the soil for pupae.
Most larvae wander off there host plant, then burrow, form a little chamber and wait for spring.
I have never dug, shoveled or tilled the the good earth for pupae.
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