Hello Actias!
I am thinking of buying Argema mittrei eggs from Ilyas, but the only foodplant I can offer them is ligustrum. I know people who tried this have ended up with high mortality rates, but I also know some have succeeded.
Could anyone tell me some tricks in order to be able to successfully rear them on Eucalyptus?
Best regards
Thomas
Hi Thomas, you have Ligustrum or Eucalyptus, and what species of them?
I have ligustrum ovalifolium, and I don’t know the species of eucalyptus but it’s most likely gunii
Eucalyptus will work better than Ligustrum. Keep the larvae in a big box (50L) with a little ventilation (a hole covered with mess) and humid (a humid paper towel in the floor of the box). Put the larvae in a big stem (when they hatch move them really gently) where they have space and spray the leaves with water until they grow to L3 (since they hatch), keep the food fresh, and always with space. No more.
Hi, thank you very much for the information, it was very valuable 
By spraying, I suppose you mean each day?
Also does keeping them in hotter temps help, as well as keeping them dark at the beginning?
They don't like being cold, it's better 25ºCelsius more or less, and about keeping them dark, I can't tell you.
Ok thank yiu
I have successfully reared mittrei on gunni twice . First few instars were in a sealed plastic tub then on cut stems plugged in a bottle of water at room temp . The stems were very long and of fresh growth which may be a problem in winter . When small they were sprayed daily and cleaned twice a day . When they were on stems in a large nest cage I sprayed them several times a day . Both times I had 100% success and healthy adults emerged . Hope this is of use
Hello Thomas,
better for you to choose Eucalyptus because I'd say Ligustrum will not work at all. I never heard of any success with L. ovalifolium.
If so, I would be very interested to see photos.
Kind regards,
Keeping silkmoth larvae in the dark when they hatch encourages them to settle down and start feeding rather than wander around wasting energy for a day or so
I also noticed that. It is precisely the case with Argema mittrei.
Spraying water is also good to make them clam down. But it is needed to make sure it evaporates quickly.
Hi, thank you very much for the info. I will follow your advice. I don’t have access to any heat source other than a room heater, can I place them near it? I think that if I keep them ventilated and spray them as you say they will be fine.
Best regards
Thomas
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