attacus atlas trying to get out of cocon

MaxjeX

My attacus atlas is trying to come out of the cocon since 9 oclock this morning. it's now 12 hours later and he still didn't succeed. I can see him through a gap and he's wriggling a lot, but no succes.
Is this normal? should I help him?

there are 2 others that came out already, but their wings did not develop completely. It looks like they didn't 'pump' them up completely.
Was there anything I could have done to prevent that?

Regards
maxjeX

Saturn

12 hours is a bit too much. You should carefully (!) try to open the cocoon valve. Maybe it has not be too long to successfully inflate its wings.

Nik

Hey Margareth,

Saturn already wrote something about your first problem, so I try to help you with your second question:

I had two cocoons of Attacus atlas, too, and both of them got crippled wings. I researched here in ACTIAS and I got the info, that the humidity should have been higher, so the wings don't harden too early by the surrounding air.
I didn't know that and so, they couldn't pump them up.

I still wait for a female A.atlas and she's surrounded by a 70% humidity. I hope, she doesn't become a crippled butterfly.

Hope I could help you a little bit,
Nik

(sorry for some little mistakes )

MaxjeX

thank you so much for your replies Nik and Saturn!
that was very helpful, I will try to increase the humidity and will open up the cocon carefully.

And as for the little mistakes: I appreciate it that you made the effort to reply in english!!! thanks

Best regards
maxjeX

MaxjeX

the little one is out of the cocon. I increased the humidity a lot but I don't think the wings will develop anymore.
he sitting very still and the wings stay completely crumpled.
So sad!

MaxjeX

the crumpled one didn't make it.
the two other ones are sitting on a branch, just being beatiful
they don't fly and hardly move.

One is losing from time to time a milky fluid. Is that their faeces?

regards
maxjeX

Schnägge

Hi Margareth,

as you have already read, the cocoons need very much high air humidity for her enclosing.
Because the butterflies unfold her wings not fully, shall probably be led back on mistake with the storage of the pupae before.
The liquid, they the butterflies separate are the no more required metabolism end products - this is absolutely normal.

MaxjeX

Thank you once again for all the information.
i have one pupae left and stored in an area with high humidity, hopefully this one will emerge good.
learning every day...

regards
margareth

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