Help needed: Suspected NPV outbreak on Antherina suraka and Argema mimosae (L4-L5))

Carolart

Hello everyone, I am quite new to breeding and facing a heartbreaking situation. I have two separate colonies of Antherina suraka and Argema mimosae. Most are in their final instar (L5), but some are currently in L4 and molting into L5. Unfortunately, the caterpillars are dying one after another...

I suspect Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus. They are currently kept inside a well-ventilated mesh cage. I change the leaves often and try to remove the strange-looking one, but the contagion keeps spreading.

There are some Antherina suraka caterpillars that had started changing color for the pupation stage, but it faded, and they have been in this state for 4-5 days now.

I am devastated and terrified of losing both entire colonies. 😪

Has anyone experienced this virus with these specific species? Is there any way I can save the currently healthy, firm caterpillars and help them reach the cocoon stage?
Thank you so much in advance for any advice.

Here are some photos

kevink

I don't recognize those symptoms, if they were exuding black fluid, I'd say it looks similar to problems I've had with Hyalophora gloveri and euryalus.

Try Oxine, it's a food grade disinfectant that has saved larva for me in the past, you'll need to atomize it with a sprayer, the dilution is 500ppm

One gallon water with 100ml of Oxine, with 2 teaspoons of citric acid as a catalyst.

This recipe was given to me by another breeder who swore by this treatment and also claimed it could invigorate stock that was suffering sub-lethal infections.

I bought my supplies on Amazon, although you may find the chemical elsewhere, you'll need an industrial grade sprayer and brown storage bottles as well, the solution will eventually degrade a typical household sprayer.

Jetzt mitmachen!