Post by izzyo98 on Jan 28, 2020 22:03:11 GMT
Hello! I am new to this forum and to insect rearing in general. I have a few questions and really hope someone can help because I fear that my stupid decisions could potentially harm the cocoons I have.
So, the only previous experience I have raising butterflies or moths before this is using a painted lady kit from the internet. They sent me caterpillars in little cups, and I observed as they made their cocoons and eclosed a couple months later. It was really simple.
I decided to try with bigger lepidoptera species so that I could eventually pin and study them, so I ordered 3 luna cocoons, 1 promethea, and 1 cecropia online. For a while I was keeping them in a pencil box outside (started in December when they arrived) on my porch, secured with a rock on top of the box so they couldn't fall or get moved by any animals. Then, in January it started snowing, and not knowing any better I decided to move them inside. I figured they were all overwintering which is why I decided to keep them outside, but I was worried they would freeze or get wet outside so I brought them in. I placed all five pupae in a hanging enclosure next to my window, and to my dismay I found that it was too close to my room's heater and one of the lunas died in the cocoon. I'm worried that if I keep changing their temperature they'll never hatch, but I'm also worried that if I keep them in my room (where it stays around 60-70 degrees most of the time) they'll refuse to hatch or die.
I check them every day, the two remaining lunas seem to be doing okay, when I gently squeeze their abdomens their little butts move around a little, but not nearly as actively as when I first got them. The cecropia also moves when I do the same thing, but much more weakly. The promethea doesn't move at all, but it's very flexible and moveable. Still I worry that it met the same fate as one of my lunas.
Does anyone have any tips or advice? I care about them a lot and don't want them to die--I know my first mistake was taking them out of the natural environment and being impatient. If anyone can help please do!!
So, the only previous experience I have raising butterflies or moths before this is using a painted lady kit from the internet. They sent me caterpillars in little cups, and I observed as they made their cocoons and eclosed a couple months later. It was really simple.
I decided to try with bigger lepidoptera species so that I could eventually pin and study them, so I ordered 3 luna cocoons, 1 promethea, and 1 cecropia online. For a while I was keeping them in a pencil box outside (started in December when they arrived) on my porch, secured with a rock on top of the box so they couldn't fall or get moved by any animals. Then, in January it started snowing, and not knowing any better I decided to move them inside. I figured they were all overwintering which is why I decided to keep them outside, but I was worried they would freeze or get wet outside so I brought them in. I placed all five pupae in a hanging enclosure next to my window, and to my dismay I found that it was too close to my room's heater and one of the lunas died in the cocoon. I'm worried that if I keep changing their temperature they'll never hatch, but I'm also worried that if I keep them in my room (where it stays around 60-70 degrees most of the time) they'll refuse to hatch or die.
I check them every day, the two remaining lunas seem to be doing okay, when I gently squeeze their abdomens their little butts move around a little, but not nearly as actively as when I first got them. The cecropia also moves when I do the same thing, but much more weakly. The promethea doesn't move at all, but it's very flexible and moveable. Still I worry that it met the same fate as one of my lunas.
Does anyone have any tips or advice? I care about them a lot and don't want them to die--I know my first mistake was taking them out of the natural environment and being impatient. If anyone can help please do!!
