Hy people,
I have for the first time eggs.
But some of theme are black?
Is this normal?
The first picture are from brahmaea japonica
The second and third are from those in my school from Acherontia atropos
Greets Jens
They will hatch soon 
regards
Arnd
It is not easy to say why the caterpillar died.
Sometimes they have an infection, sometimes it is a genetic defect. They simply don't grow and die. Was the foodplant that you used free of insecticides and other chemicals ( fertilizers?)
Another thing you should always keep in mind: The leaves you feed must never be wet! They must be dry. Otherwise the caterpillars will catch bacterial infections and die.
And there are other factors as well. Acherontia atropos likes warm and dry climates. So it should be kept warm and dry (not much air moisture!)
Concerning your eggs and the color:
With many eggs it is absolutely normal that they change color. This indicates that the larvae develop inside the egg!
Some eggs take longer to develop than others.
Good luck to you!
SPHINX, I mean that the caterpillar was directly dead after hatching.
He where at the egg and didn't move the next two days.
Hi. I understand. It is good that you show a good photo --> this makes really clear what happened
In your case here, I think it might have been a genetic defect, as I said. With all creatures, - not only insects - , there can be complications during birth. There is alsways a percentage of "babies" - no matter what animal - that are not healthy and who may even die while developing or "being born". It is not your mistake or fault, I think it was just bad luck! The chances that out of 100 eggs 100 healthy caterpillars develop are very small. In many cases not all eggs will hatch. Some will die for no obious reason. Genetic defects are a part of nature and I think this is what happened here.
And by the way: The chances that out of 100 caterpillars 100 will turn into a healthy pupa are small as well. Some caterpillars just won't pupate for no obvious reason and some pupae simply die without any reason visible to us. Metamorphosis is a very complicated procedure !!!
that what's happend whit the first cattepillar is on my school happends too. There are some more cattepillers with had the same issue. 
Second out of 50 eggs there hedged and live(ecl the cattepillars with that issue) only 14. Thats not mutch.
But the cattepillars those hatched and get of the egg are very healty and does well. One of theme has already the collors of a hawkmoth. With those strips.
But when it goes this time wrong. I try again with the teacher of my school and we will see again.
Greets Jens
Hi Jens.
From where the eggs of the Acherontia atropos are? And when you got them?
Rudi
Wissenschaftlicher Name: Acherontia atropos
Deutscher Name: Totenkopfschwärmer
Eier, Raupen, Puppen, Kokons: Eier / Raupen L1
Herkunft: Nachzucht
Preis: Eier 20 Stück 15 Euro, Raupen L1 10 Stück 15 Euro
Versandkosten: frei
Versanddatum: nach Zahlungseingang
Zahlung: Überweisung, Brief
Zuchthinweise: Spektakuläre Art mit sehr großen, schnell wachsenden Raupen und Schmetterlingen die quieken können wie kleine Mäuse,
und 4-6 Wochen leben können - eine interessante Art die jeder mal züchten sollte 
.
Die Aufzucht der Raupen ist relativ leicht, etwas schwieriger ist es eine Kopula zu erreichen.
Die Falter müssen meist von Hand gefüttert werden - in Anbetracht der Größe und Robustheit der Falter sind sie sehr gut
geeignet das Handling der Handfütterung zu üben. Zur Verpuppung vereinzeln mit mindestens 20 cm tiefer Erde zum eingraben.
Futterpflanzen: Liguster, Flieder, Kartoffelkraut, Tollkirsche
Bei Interesse PN oder Mail
Citaat toht66
Have you asked the seller of the eggs, if there were more problems with other breeders, which bought the eggs of his atropos?
And why did you keep the eggs on the Ligustrum leaves? Kept you the eggs together with these leaves inside a plastic-box?
Hi Klow
But some of the eggs came together with the eggs at my home. I kept them in a glas ice-tea
I´m sorry, but I don´t understand you English.
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