Acherontia atropos

Lewis Jansen

Hello everybody,

When the caterpillars from Acherontia Atropos are going to pupate, in what kind of ground do you have to put it?
And how can you see when you have to put the caterpillars in a container?
I know that they will change color, but do you have to put them in a container immediatly when they change colors?
I appreciate any advise!

Best wishes,
Lewis

Toni Kasiske

Hello Lewis,
the caterpillars need a big container. They must have loose earth and the container has to be 20-30 cm high at least.
If the caterpillars change the colors, they also will walk any time. But if you put them on the earth, they will bury soon.
Best regards,
Toni

Lewis Jansen

Hello Tony!
Thanks for youre fast answer!
I've got a good box, but what kind of ground do I need? Because are they going to pupate in every kind of ground? And If I put them in the box when they change colors immediatly, then It's not a problem?
Hopefully you will answer this too.
Best wishes,

Lewis

Actias

As you see here the caterpillar builds a subterrean cave,
often 10 to 30 cm below ground.
When they change color they stop eating.
They become nervous and begin to walk around.
My experience: they bury in any type of soil.

Picture from our member Barbara Kümin.
She wrote a fine description and breeding report
with more expressive pictures of Acherontia atropos.

Lewis Jansen

Hello!
Everybody thanks for all youre very fast answer!
I see that they grow fast!
I've got a very large container; 2.5M X 0.7M X 0.6
Would that be big enough for 25 caterpillars?
Now i know that i can use any kind of ground!

Lewis

Klaas Reißmann

That's big enough for many more.

Regards

Klaas

Lewis Jansen

Haha oke!

Thanks for all advice everybody

Regards,
Lewis

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