I'd say about 20% of my silkworms are actually making it to the moth stage in my colony. Lots of others are just simply turning into cacoons without creating the silk enclosure, or they just lay there and turn into goo and die. Then of course there are the ones that just never emerge from the sac. Just wanted to see if that sounds normal compared to others experience and if not, what I may be doing wrong. Temps are usually 80-85 in my house but humidity fluctuates.
Silkworm cacoons
- Thread starter lonomac
- Start date
I have only allowed mine to cocoon up a couple of times but whenever it happens I don't lose silkworms in the manner you describe. They cocoon up properly and then hatch into moths.
There was some talk about some virus or disease causing problems that I think sounded similar to this...but I'm not sure so I will have to go and look it up again now.
There was some talk about some virus or disease causing problems that I think sounded similar to this...but I'm not sure so I will have to go and look it up again now.
Is this the way it happens?
http://www.wormspit.com/grasserie.htm
http://www.wormspit.com/grasserie.htm
Vibrant Chameleons
Avid Member
I had this happen to my worms and it was just brutal. Once I noticed it, it was basically too late and eventually killed the entire 750 worms. It was my first time raising silkies so it discouraged me and I gave up with silkworm raising. Maybe I'll give it a try with a lot less worms next time.
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
I checked out the link
After speaking to the owner of mulberry farms he informed me that the milky
excretion is the symptom of a viral infection.
Yeah, raising these things is kinda tricky but they're worth it to see the life cycle complete
with the females laying eggs.
After speaking to the owner of mulberry farms he informed me that the milky
excretion is the symptom of a viral infection.
Yeah, raising these things is kinda tricky but they're worth it to see the life cycle complete
with the females laying eggs.
Ya I only got about 10 moths but a couple hundred eggs still. So not a total loss
Howdy! This is Michael, from wormspit.com - I noticed the hits to the site, and popped over here to see what was up.
Just a note - if you are having viral grasserie like what I put up on the wormspit page, it can be passed from one generation to the next by infected eggs. Typically the next generation will get sick much earlier, although it still shows up more in the older caterpillars. I just want you to be prepared - if the moths that laid the eggs were infected, your next batch may have it too. If this happens to me now, I destroy the whole batch and start with fresh eggs.
dodolah
Retired Moderator
hey while we're still talking about silkies cocoon..
hey mike!
I followed your advice in your site..
I put some toilet paper rolls..
but is the roll meant to be only inhabited by 1 cocoon?
I think there are another 2 silkies that just happen to like 1 certain spot.
and there is already 1 that's in the cocoon stage.
should i separate them?
hey mike!
I followed your advice in your site..
I put some toilet paper rolls..
but is the roll meant to be only inhabited by 1 cocoon?
I think there are another 2 silkies that just happen to like 1 certain spot.
and there is already 1 that's in the cocoon stage.
should i separate them?
I usually get 3 or 4 in each tube. They will want to crawl toward the top; if you put one in, let it get started (until the cocoon is clearly defined) then you can put in another beneath it.
Ideally, you don't want more than 1 inside the individual cocoon, because then they're so thick the moth can't get out. If you get two inside a cocoon, it's probably best to cut it open after a week and tip out the pupae, so they'll hatch easily.
It's a virus. They get bacteria, too, but those make different symptoms. The real clincher for Grasserie (Borrelina virus) is the milky fluid, and under microscopic examination, polyhedra bodies.
The infection can be transferred by hand from sick worms, it can be transferred in contaminated eggs, and it can be transferred by contaminated food. It's very easy to get, and hard to clean out of your stuff. Lots of alcohol and bleach. A couple of years ago, most of the silkworms being imported to the US were having trouble with it, which indicates there was probably infection somewhere in China.
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