Moths

[Todnedo]

Can wait till summer to try this.
Here's a link http://nitro.biosci.arizona.edu/zeeb/butterflies/mothlist.html

 

[RachelRiot]

That looks like a ton of fun. One question though, dont you have to be weary of parasites if feeding WC feeders???

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

WOW , that is crazy.

My melleri would be in heaven

 

[Ricardo]

That looks like a ton of fun. One question though, dont you have to be weary of parasites if feeding WC feeders???

Maybe the parasites gona killed in the digestive system, stomach with a low pH is not the parasites favorite (as i know there are just a very few microbes can survive this circumstances, but let me know if im wrong plz!)

Cheers: Ricardo

p.s.: i wana try it too will be great fun. Just have to sort out the protected species!

 

[lele]

That looks like a ton of fun. One question though, dont you have to be weary of parasites if feeding WC feeders???

Light trapping will bring in a large variety of moths. You can also "sugar" for moths which is fun, too. That site may have info, if not just do a google search as you will find many "recipes" for the mix.

Anyway, as far as parasites you do not have to worry. The majority of moths nectar to feed (many are very important pollinators) and there are others who do not feed as adults at all (the wild silk moths for example). There are some who will drink at puddles (like butterflies do ) for salts and minerals, but the chances of ingesting something is small and unlikely you will end up with anything that will harm your cham (different type of parasites). As caterpillars they feed on leaves (typically, there are very few exceptions) and since they clear their gut before pupating anything they may have ingested is expelled anyway.

The only thing you really have to watch out for is the usual warning colors - red/orange/black combos. The most common example I can give you is the adult of the hornworm - the sphinx moth. They have the orange/pumpkin color horizontal stripes on their abdomen (dorsal - back- not underside). Because they feed on toxic plants in nature (tomato, pepper, etc.) they show warning colors as adults just as monarch butterflies do (their larvae feed on the toxic milkweed).

Have fun!

lele
moths are my life! OK, part of my life, a big part

 

[yoza717]

Wow, Thanks for the great info lele.
And thanks to Todnedo for starting a great thread.