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Post by amlepid on Sept 18, 2016 20:41:44 GMT
Hello,
I am just getting into silkmoth keeping and would like to start off with polyphemus, a friend of mine has offered eggs to me.
I still have many questions regarding getting started though that my friend cannot answer.
I live in New York, and it is nearing the end of fall now. I may be able to get the Polyphemus eggs by the end of the week (9/23). I understand that the eggs may take two weeks to hatch, so (at the very latest) I can expect caterpillars on 3/3. I believe it takes four to six weeks for the caterpillars to go from egg to cocoon, so we can expect cocoons (again, at the very latest) 11/14, hopefully even sooner. Once in cocoons, the pupae will be kept outside to overwinter along with the NY population of polyphemus. I know this schedule seems very unrealistic, but would anyone in the NY area be able to validate this?
I guess in short, my questions are:
Is it realistic to expect cocoons by the time lower NY state leaves turn?
How can I get the caterpillars to grow as quickly as possible?
Will leaving the pupae outside be enough to get them to overwinter?
Thank you
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Post by trehopr1 on Sept 18, 2016 21:20:26 GMT
I sincerely doubt that you will be able to get caterpillars to the 5th instar by late Oct. - Early Nov. Caterpillars need lush nutrient rich green leaves to properly develop. Most states on the Eastern seaboard are well into fall by the 2nd week of Oct. when the leaves are changing colors. Therefore, they would likely die off either from not eating or from not getting enough nutrients from the dying leaves. I well remember finding full grown 5th instar Polyphemus larvae near my childhood home (near and around silver maple trees) at about this time of the year back then. So they had at least 3 months to get that size in time to make cocoons by Mid-Late Sept. I live in Illinois. In these parts the adult moths usually would emerge Mid-June for the single brood to be ready by Mid- Sept. I personally do not profess to be a breeder of Lepidoptera. But, my knowledge of their sorted cycles is based upon personal observations here in the Midwest. I am afraid to say that at this point your efforts and time would likely be in vain.
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Post by amlepid on Sept 18, 2016 21:22:58 GMT
I sincerely doubt that you will be able to get caterpillars to the 5th instar by late Oct. - Early Nov. Caterpillars need lush nutrient rich green leaves to properly develop. Most states on the Eastern seaboard are well into fall by the 2nd week of Oct. when the leaves are changing colors. Therefore, they would likely die off either from not eating or from not getting enough nutrients from the dying leaves. I well remember finding full grown 5th instar Polyphemus larvae near my childhood home (near and around silver maple trees) at about this time of the year back then. So they had at least 3 months to get that size in time to make cocoons by Mid-Late Sept. I live in Illinois. In these parts the adult moths usually would emerge Mid-June for the single brood to be ready by Mid- Sept. I personally do not profess to be a breeder of Lepidoptera. But, my knowledge of their sorted cycles is based upon personal observations here in the Midwest. I am afraid to say that at this point your efforts and time would likely be in vain. I was worried time of year would be an issue -- thank you so much for replying
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