Silkmoth Keepers

[sporeworld]

I wanted to do a quick shout to any Forum Members who are into, or might want to BE into, Silkmoths. If you can contact me privately, or just post on this thread, I'd like to get a sense of who has or wants what.

I'm also not sure how the forum community and our beloved moderators feel about exotic Silkmoths, and would like to get their stance on the matter before any folk incriminate themselves.

 

[agent A]

personally i'd love to see a saturniid forum

i keep actias luna, automeris io, and hyalaphora cecropia

i'd like to get my hands on some hyalaphora columbia though

 

[twolfe]

I have about 20 Actias Luna, 10 Polyphemus, and 1 Cecropia cocoons in my referigerator right now.

Last year I tried some Automeris io as I thought the caterpillars looked cool. I had a greenhouse set up out back with a lot of my moths and lots of plants. They were all native species in case they escaped. I never saw the IOs mate. They laid eggs but didn't hatch. I heard the cats sting.

 

[agent A]

i lost my ENTIRE second brood of polys last year to tiger beetles

 

[Bryce08]

I would be very interested in getting into them I have asked a couple people on here about them and some info on them.

 

[agent A]

i should have TONS of luna eggs available in spring

a few forum members r gonna trade eggs of their stock with eggs of mine to increase the genetic variability of our stocks

 

[sporeworld]

That's great!

I'm at the end of a brood now, and I'm remembering how much more I enjoy the cats vs. the adults (who, quite honestly, don't do much). But OMG... I forgot just how much these monsters consume!!! I put one in a private enclosure, and counted the droppings from a 24 hour period. That little beastie created 22 pieces of frass!!

Amazing!

 

[agent A]

20 Luna moths in the larva stage produce 4 cups of frass at least lol

 

[sporeworld]

And, apparently, their frass makes outstanding fertilizer! Orchid (plants) breeders love it! I toss most of the frass in my patio planters.

 

[twolfe]

Hmmm. I'll have to try that for my Orchids. I collected the frass last year but ended up dumping it in the compost pile.

 

[Colorcham427]

Not another species! lol I'll PM you I'm into these.

 

[sporeworld]

Ha, ha!

For anyone who hasn't experienced it, a (very) large silkmoth crawaling on your skin is a... well, unique experience.

 

[Bryce08]

Ha, ha!

For anyone who hasn't experienced it, a (very) large silkmoth crawaling on your skin is a... well, unique experience.

now im scared

lol j/k

although with like a what...9 inch wingspan or so....you might be right lol

 

[agent A]

Ha, ha!

For anyone who hasn't experienced it, a (very) large silkmoth crawaling on your skin is a... well, unique experience.

They seem to hug your finger when u hold them

It's so sweet :wub:

 

[sporeworld]

It really is. My staff were braver about ferocious looking mantids crawling on them, than they are about "worms". But I like having them crawl on me when I'm doing paperwork. Keeps me smiling! But you can't be in a hurry. They'll let go when they're good and ready.

And, to anyone who keeps these guys, and can manage to feed them Sweet Gum, your whole room will smell like flowers (Sweet Gum is very aromatic). During the last few instars, there's so much grinding and gnashing of leaves, that it's as strong as having lilies in a vase. Jasmine vines in my office didn't give off as much aroma as chewed Sweet Gum. Mmmmmm... And in the last instar, you can HEAR them chewing across the room!

 

[CoolMantid]

I have 2 ios and 4 Prometha on the way (just bought them)

I wanna get some more Polyphemus as mine never hatched. I can't wait for them to eclose! A big moth flying around!! Can't wait

Nice to know there are other giant silkmoth lovers out there

 

[sporeworld]

Yeah - Poly's are almost terrifying when the fly - big and barely in control. You can hear them flapping from pretty far away, too.

Prometha are on the small side, but really beautiful. Cynthia's are another gorgeous moth.

 

[CoolMantid]

I like promethas because they eat Sassafrass which I have every where. Polys eat oak which is also everywhere. There is one thing I am worried about, If an Ios gets out they will ddestroy native plants. As Ios are found on the other side of the country. I just cant get that out of my head.

Cynthias remind me of Atlas moths.

Hey Sporeworld,

Are you going to the LA natural history museam for the Butterfly Habitat opening on April 8 (Well April 8 is the first day its open and thats when they have the most butterflies/moths because they were just introduced.) I am going on April 8 to see the new moths they said they are going to put in. Last time the moths were hiding in Summer because of the harsh lights. I was suprised at that when they announced it before we went in. So if you go a couple days after they were released they shoulds still be out.

 

[CoolMantid]

there is one thing that worries me that Agent A pointed out. What should I do if one Io emerges first before the other? Agent A suggested putting him/her in the fridge to "sleep"

Would this work? I only have 2