Epiphora lugardi cocoons and hostplants

    Can anyone provide advice in regards to how I should store Epiphora lugardi cocoons?


    Additionally, what foods would be best for the larvae? Is there any sort of artificial diet I could create for them?


    Many thanks,

    Jacob

  • AD

    I have 10 lugardi cocoons I have had since Dec. of '23. I kept them in an unheated room around 70f, and dry.

    About 3 weeks ago I moved them to a cage I use for high humidity and heat, which I cycle warm and wet conditions,

    to attempt to replicate the weather in Kenya, easy to look it up, it's warm and wet this time of year.

    Foodplant, I have a book which lists ceanothus as a foodplant. I think African flora is going to be difficult to locate.

    I am hoping to see some moths any minute now... I'll post any interesting developments.

    You might try artificial diet, I have diet I bought at Amazon for Hyles lineata, which they ate, but it is a labor intensive

    endeavor, constant cleaning is the drawback.

    Well.

    Something interesting has in fact happened.

    I am waiting for the batteries to recharge, and will post a photo, as well as try

    an image search.

    A mystery moth appeared. Not a Saturniidae. Looks like a big Noctuid, with it's wings folded over the back.

    All the cocoons look the same, with minor differences in color.

    Very unusual. Did it emerge from one of the "lugardi" cocoons?

    Who did you buy the lugardi from?

Participate now!

Don’t have an account yet? Register yourself now and be a part of our community!