Help on hornworm breeding lighting/moisture

[freddyf385]

I bought some hornworms at a locale pet store. Since then my hornworms appear that there ready to pupae. I plan on moving them into a container with soil in it. Question is, once the pupae stage is complete. And dig them out, place them into new dirt. How does the lighting work from this momment and hummidity/moisture do you mist on dirt or directly to the pupea? I dont want to cause diapause of or stun them. I plan on putting them in a screen cage. kinda like pigglett79 did.

 

[pigglett79]

If they look good and you don't see any dead or poo in the dirt you don't need to dig them out. I just leave them in the dirt, then mist the dirt daily. I keep a piece of gutter guard in the dirt so when the moths hatch they can immediately climb up to puff out their wings. If they don't have something to climb up right away their wings won't puff out right and they won't be and to eat or breed. I'll post a pic later.

I keep them in a really big critter keeper and set it next to my screen cage that has a light on it. That way as moths hatch I move them to the cage. I stopped keeping the dirt container in the screen cage because moths flying around get dust everywhere. I'll post a pic of this later for you too. Keep them at room temp and they should hatch in about 4 weeks.

 

[freddyf385]

cool, thanks for the info plan on seeing the pictures that way i can get a good idea of how i should go about setting up and everything.

 

[pigglett79]

ok dont mind how messy it is, the cage is in need of cleaning. I usually take the plant out in the day to let it get some sun and water it so the plant is usually only in the cage at night after moths hatch.

 

[freddyf385]

nice, thanks for the help.