erebia
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by erebia on Jun 27, 2019 7:22:24 GMT -8
I recently netted a wild female Ranchman's tiger moth, Platyprepia virginalis, in northern Utah (USA). She appears to be heavy with ova and I am trying to get her to lay inside of a fabric cage. The cage is stocked with a potted Larkspur plant as well as a potted daisy. Similar plant species (mine are ornamental) are thought to be used for egg laying and as possible larval host plants for this moth. After two days the moth remains healthy but I cannot find any ova to date. Any suggestions on how to encourage egg laying with this species ? Thanks for any ideas.
Dale
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Post by catocala59 on Jun 27, 2019 17:48:01 GMT -8
It may be that she hasn't mated.
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erebia
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by erebia on Jun 27, 2019 19:30:05 GMT -8
I netted her during a significant flight where several dozen Ranchman's tigers were active close by. She has slight wing wear, which suggests that she had been flying for a day or two, so I think it's unlikely she hasn't mated but as you mention that possibility can't be ruled out.
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erebia
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by erebia on Jun 29, 2019 6:22:46 GMT -8
Success to report - I phoned a long time "retired moth rearer" and he suggested that I temporarily increase the humidity in the cage to well over 90% and that would trigger egg laying (the natural humidity here is typically 10 to 20% this time of year). I did and it worked, she laid clusters of eggs on leaves of the Larkspur as well as on the surfaces of the cage fabric.
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