MONSTERS IN THE NIGHT

[RedMountainHome]

I was laying in bed after a nice Sunday-Funday just a little while ago and noticed some odd noise coming from my office, across the hall from my bedroom. This is the room where I keep a chameleon, 3 tarantulas, a fish tank, and assorted "live pet-food" so it had me a bit concerned. It turns out that my horn worm cocoons were hatching ahead of schedule, and those giant bastards freaked me right out!
Now you might not think that moths are very scary, and I'd normally agree with you, but when they make so much noise that you can hear them in another room, and then their eyes reflect off your phone's flash light, well, it can catch one by surprise.
Two of them seem to have abnormally small wings, dunno what's going on there. Anyway, here are some pictures of the first hatches.

 

[carol5208]

I think it is because they were not kept moist enough. I think I remember reading this that the soil has to be sprayed down. I could be wrong though. There was a member who wrote a whole blog about how to raise hornworms. She really does not come on here anymore I dont think. Her name is Piglet if I remember. Search her name and see if you can find the blog.

 

[carol5208]

I think I read that the soil has to be kept moist or it can effect their wingspan growth. I might be wrong though. Here is a link from a member(I think she is inactive now) about Hornworm breeding and care.
http://feederinsectbreeding.blogspot.com/p/hornworm-care-and-breeding.html Edit: yes, I just read thge blog and it does say that about moisture and wing growth.

 

[trickedoutbiker]

Two of them seem to have abnormally small wings, dunno what's going on there.

I think it is because they were not kept moist enough. I think I remember reading this that the soil has to be sprayed down. I could be wrong though.

This is absolutely correct in that they have to be kept moist in order for their wings to properly form. This is because in the wild, they will bury down into the dirt all winter and eclose in the spring. All through the winter and beginning of spring, they are soaking in the water from all of the snow and the rain that has seeped into the ground.

This is why when I am trying to hatch moths, I put the pupae in a container on top of a soaked piece of paper towel and put another small piece, also soaked, over the top of them. Re-soaked every other day, this seems to give them adequate moisture to form their wings properly.

 

[Ilike4hornedchams]

Hey on the bright side, those ones are not going to fly so that's a plus for your chams or what ever your feeding em to.

 

[RedMountainHome]

I was keeping them nice and moist, that water jug did a nice job of keeping the humidity up. I checked on them this morning and they all had what appear to have normal sized wings now. I guess they just needed some time to firm up and fluff out after emerging.

 

[Link]

I was laying in bed after a nice Sunday-Funday just a little while ago and noticed some odd noise coming from my office, across the hall from my bedroom. This is the room where I keep a chameleon, 3 tarantulas, a fish tank, and assorted "live pet-food" so it had me a bit concerned. It turns out that my horn worm cocoons were hatching ahead of schedule, and those giant bastards freaked me right out!
Now you might not think that moths are very scary, and I'd normally agree with you, but when they make so much noise that you can hear them in another room, and then their eyes reflect off your phone's flash light, well, it can catch one by surprise.
Two of them seem to have abnormally small wings, dunno what's going on there. Anyway, here are some pictures of the first hatches.
View attachment 168920 View attachment 168919

 

[Link]

Same thing happens with my butterflies sometimes it takes a while for their wings to expand.

 

[Andee]

Sometimes it helps them pump their wings if you have something that allows them to be upside down and hang vertically.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

It took mine a full 2 days for their wings to dry and expand enough to be able to fly!