Hornworm Breeding

[Jordan S]

Hello all! I would like to know ifnany Be has ever tried and has had success of breeding hornworms. I'm thinking of starting a breeding project, but I have a few questions.

How do I tell if a hornworm is dead? I've had a few be on the cup lid but I'm unsure if they're dead or still alive.

Do hornworm larvae require 14 hour light?

How do I tell the instar of a hornworm?
Any tips are greatly appreciated.

 

[alphakenc]

How do I tell if a hornworm is dead

When you flip a hornworm upside down and it wont never ever flip back up....dead as a green door knob.

 

[d3s5]

I've successfully bred hornworms but, to me, it isn't worth the trouble. The hawkmoths need a large cage to fly and hummingbird feeders (or other apparatus) to drink from. It's really cool but then I got way too many eggs - I only have one Cham that likes hornworms. If you have lots of chameleons and the room, it would be worth it. My larva just got whatever light there was from the windows - I don't think they have a specific light requirement.

You can tell when a hornworm is ready to bury itself because you will see a dark pulsating line down its back. Put it in some loose dirt and it will dig. Good luck!

Deb