Hello! Please can you tell me why newborn Saturnia pyri caterpillars don't want to eat food? They hatched yesterday and still they don't eat. I gave them all i could find. They just creep. Strange behaviour. If they won't eat they will die soon. What to do?
Saturnia pyri larvae
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I believe they may start to feed within the first 2 days of hatching. If it's possible try and make sure that they can access the food as much as possible. What host plant are you using.
Kind regards
Connor
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...and place the container with the caterpillars completely dark for the first days.
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ConnorH, thanks for reply! In the beginning i gave them Malus, Cherry plums, Ulmus, Tilia, Betula, Alnus, Acer, Raspberries and hazels... Now i left them only Pyrus communis and some Prunus spinosa. Only a few caterpillars began to feed but others still creep. Sure, they can access the food easily i also put them in three different boxes.
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Rudi, thanks for the advice!
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Have you sprayed them? They will/have to drink before they commence feeding.
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Saturn, thanks for the advice! But are you sure? Because I don't want them to get sick. I heard they need dry conditions.
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That is true for the later instars, but after leaving the egg shell, almost every caterpillar needs some small water droplets to get the digestion system running...
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