Sphinx ligustri breeding.

Hi Rob,
Ligustri is one of easier Sphingids in breeding - the best would be putting this pair into a cage, max. 1x1x1m, I think (you will have better control than in a big greenhouse). It's very similar as Mimas tiliae or Laothoe populi - female gives off a scen very visibly and a male is able to find her and mate within several seconds - that's the theory. Probably essential would be keeping the cage outside. Look at http://www.mojemotyle.pl - an excellent website of my friend with lots of photos, recently he was also rearing ligustri ('translate' it with English flag button and then go to 'Articles' at the left top of the page, there you will find the species). As I could see, the female probably lays eggs not only on the foodplant. Good luck!

I've never bred ligustri. When you put the cage outside you can of course attract some wild males if this moth exists where you live, but what's more important - you make it easier to get a pairing. The female's scent is scattered by the wind or just the air (unlike if kept in a small room) - then the male is more 'excited' because he still feels some smell, doesn't get 'bored' too fast and tries to find the female for a longer period of time.

My ligustri mated for at least 12 hours and after that they were still sitting in almost the same position they mated in until night. So don´t make too much of the observation that they were sitting pretty close to each other. Sorry for this one. I would still try to get a wild male. It is not so unlikely that there´s a Population near you. I suppose ligustri is more common than one would expect. I had never seen a s. ligustri myself in wild until they came to my living room tracking the females I had there some days ago.

If you hadn't given her a plant immediately put it into a small cage and force the female to eat! Use a pin to enreel siphonet and keep in a honey solution for a longer while - generally Sphingids don't eat in captivity without human's help.