Slowing down cocoon development

Willem

Maybe I put my question in the wrong topic last time or maybe because it was in German so here In go again (in English).

I'm currently breeding Attacus Atlas moths. Of the seven caterpillars, three have already pupated. Only the other four haven't reached this stage yet. I'd like to breed them, so given the short time frame they typically have, it would be nice if they emerged from their cocoons as moths at about the same time.

Do you have any advice on how I can slow down the development of the cocoons so that they remain synchronized after pupation?

I have a climate-controlled cabinet that allows me to precisely regulate the temperature, so that may possibly be helpfull to achieve my goal. But I have no idea wich temperatures are healthy to do so.

glischrochilus

Hello Willem, your question is exactly in the right place.

But with a total of 7 pupae it will be generally difficult to achieve a synchronized hatching. I think A. atlas can be brought into a kind of diapause, also depending on the place of origin.

If you enter "Attacus atlas"here in the "search" function you find some discussions concerning this item.

Thomas

Willem

Hi Thomas, Thanks for your answer. In already made a search but it wasn't quite clear toe if i can just put them in a climate enclosure and let the temperature fall to 10°C in one go.

In can image it will be difficult, but I would like to try.

The origin of the Atticus is Thailand btw.

Jetzt mitmachen!