Hyalophora Cecropia caterpillars wont eat

Galaxy-Moth

Hi,

i have a few Hyalophora Cecropia caterpillars hatched 3 days ago. I tried several of their foodplants (Acer, Syringa, Juglans, Prunus) and they just sit on the branches / leafs and dont eat. The first 2 died today. And since i am waiting for another batch of eggs to hatch i dont want them to die from hunger.

Would appreciate any help. tahnks in advance🌱

Saturn

Did you spray them and then put them into a dark environment? The need to drink before they will start to eat.

kevink

That's my answer as well. Try the mist, I have also read that trimming leaf edges will entice them to eat, I haven't seen it work,but apparently someone had.

My experience, the dark doesn't matter, it'll get dark in the evening on it's own.

When I have had larva that need choices, I put them in with the various plants and let them choose.

Leo

today my first cecropias hatched and started immediatly with eating. I offered them leaves of my Cherrytree (prunus), wet from raining.

Galaxy-Moth

Thank you both!

Yes i had the leafs sprayed that i put the caterpillars on after.

Sadly the Only Cherry trees here are completely full and half way eaten of Erannis defoliaria, wich i also dont want to disturb.

I even changed their enclosure to 3 different versions, so the humidity varies. But also they just straight up refuse to eat. 5 of about 20 are only still alive (i found the smallest ammount of their poop)

My Actias Luna and Graellsia isabellae, just eat normal like im used to it.

Leo

Perhaps it's just bad luck and you've a bad breeding line. Sometimes all the caterpillars die and next year everything's perfect ... With the same methods.

Galaxy-Moth

Yea i guess so. Ill try my best with the remaining ones.

Thank you!

Have a Great Weekend

Galaxy-Moth

Update:

Second Batch eats completely Normal. Maby it really was that one specific breeding

Hyalophora Cecropia caterpillars wont eat

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