Posts by kevink

My preferred method is to weigh them with a digital scale, males will typically be lighter than females, of course, you need to keep track of

the weights of each cocoon, and if that's the box(pictured) you have to work with, that might be time consuming. I sometimes use some label attached to the cocoon, or as with pupa, wrap it in paper towel, and I write on that.

I don't like to open cocoons, it's not always simple. I doubt there is any way to tell by sight alone. When I have opened cocoons, it has always been

stressful to me, I'll use a scissors or a razor blade, or both, and a lot can go wrong with either.

I live in the USA, first, nobody here ships larva, that's an EU thing.

As far as ova, I use coin containers for shipping sometimes, if I am using an envelope or bubble mailer, and no padding is

needed, other times, if I am shipping in a box, I use a small deli cup, which also lends itself to having enough room to

hold eggs laid on paper, I use tissue paper for light packing in these instances, and typically tape the cup to the bottom

of the box, surrounded by light packing material, it's probably overkill, as I have received many ova shipments with

eggs rolling around in containers, without any adverse results. I have also used old writing pens, cut into pieces,

or straws inserted into a slot cut into cardboard.

Pictures? I have never photographed an ova container before, or after shipping.

Eggs are simply too light to cause damage to themselves by bouncing about in a container, I like things locked down for

shipping, but it's a choice.

Infertile ova is a fact of life, and unless the percentage of infertile ova is over 50%, complaints are grasping at straws, most people

realize that nothing is absolute, it is a good idea to keep notes of ova , when it's laid, and keep some for fertility determinations.

Worth trying. I have read that Hyalophora males have been attracted to Samia cynthia females, and the ova were infertile, no mention

of other hybrid types.

Quote from Ilyas

Its trustworthy, but it can takes a few months for him to ship as when you buy you basically pre order

Pre order mean this- I don't have the material and will attempt to buy it after I get your money. Nice work if you can get it, and have no ethics.

Speaking in generalities, every species calls for mates at different times of the day or night. That's normal, but, there are endless

abnormal behaviors that happen time to time.

The possibility exists that no males are nearby or present. Typically, males moths hatch first, then the females, but in nature, things

are not always typical.

I have never read about a limited amount of female pheromone, but that doesn't mean it isn't accurate, it does sound implausible however.

Handpairing is usually used on larger animals, although I suppose it's possible.

Well, firstly, those look expired to me. I could be wrong though. If the pupa will come out of the cocoon far enough, try

seeing if they are cold or not, by touching them to your lips. Yes that actually works.

Other than that, it sounds like typical Rothschildia under sub-optimal conditions, I have a single Rothschildia arethusa that

is approaching a 2nd birthday, the other 9 cocoons having hatched sporadically over the last 16 months.

What? PayPal isn't a charity. How do you think they make money, in order to provide a service? by making free transactions for everyone?

Realistically, I don't have any family, or "friends" that I have ever sent money to, clearly, not everyone on the internet is your friend.

Difficult to say what the issue is, once larva are sick, they are probably doomed. I have been able to save sick Hyalophora larva larva using a

mixture of Oxine, a disinfectant used in animal husbandry, but it's not a perfect solution.

What causes these diseases is a mystery, clearly some environmental condition, possibly a soil or plant born pathogen.

Once animals are sick, you have to take an approach nearing sterile handling, as if in a hospital, not an easy thing to accomplish.

I am certain we are all old enough to decide which payment method to use, as a buyer and seller, both PayPal options are viable methods

for different reasons. For new transactions, I use Goods and Services, known people get Friends and Family, sometimes, I get some insight

and use F&F for a new seller, but it is a risk, and one I am aware of when I make it. If I get burned, I'll say so, but complaining about the method

I used... well, you know. That extra percentage? I could care less as a seller, 4% isn't going to break me, this is far from a money making hobby.

I have used google image search a few times, it's interesting, but not perfect, personally, I prefer the human touch, and the benefit of other's experience and knowledge.

if your memory is as good as mine, you'll want to print out one of those diagrams

Clearly in nature, they burrow. Not always practical with breeding, I have used potting soil before, as well as dry moss in containers.

I've had the best luck using a small plastic bin, like a small animal cage with a slotted lid filled with moss that is dry and sterile.

I've used soils a couple of times, some larva went right down, others would wander the top for days, next time I have burrowing

larva, I'll be using the moss and saving the money I spent on organic potting soil.

I keep track of dates, and the amount of larva in each bin, a post-it-note works fine to write down details. I've put as many as 10 larva

in a small to meduim cage, perhaps 2 liters at most, it depends on when the larva are put in, you don't want larva disturbing each other.

If it's shredded newspaper or other medium you prefer, very well, I have a supply of fluffy moss, and it's free.

There you are, maybe the cold killed them, maybe not. I have refrigerated species that I found out later weren't supposed to be exposed

to low temps, and didn't have issues, so one can never tell. Hard with cocoons to determine alive or not, and these lugardi cocoons are

tough, I think they could be stepped on and survive (not recommended) . I have a digital scale I use, but it only works best when you

weigh animals when you get them, or just after forming a pupa.

Like I mentioned earlier, and as Bartmantis said, exotics are tricky, I have a nearly 2 year old Rothschildia arethusa still going, the others having hatched sporadically.

Don't worry people! If anything happens with my Epiphora lugardi, you'll be the 2nd to know.

Well, maybe wet season is over. It is mid 70's.

Exotics are not easy for us, even native desert species are problematic.

Well, if they survived the winter, look up the weather in Kenya, it's the wet season. I have lugardi as well, I kept mine cool and dry

over the winter in an unheated room, now they have been warm and humid since March 29 2024. Nothing is happening for me.

Soon I will probably have to see if I can weigh them without taking them off the string they are hanging on.

I did have a still unidentified mystery moth hatch from a cocoon in the batch that had a slightly different look to it some time back,

I made a post about it.

Quote from Leo

That's obvious. Arranging a picture so that it looks somewhat natural is not always easy. Unfortunately, the models are not always as professional and relaxed as we would like...

I like taking photos of the various life stages as well, uncooperative is an understatement when it comes to animals, especially ones worried about being eaten. Much patience, and it gets tested. Luckily now we have digital photography and can "develop" our photos easily, as well as trash them.

Bare bones works. I have some branches on stands I use, and will attach cocoons to it if possible, others, like pupae, get laid

On paper towels, more often than not, the animals climb up the screen walls after emerging.

Having empty space becomes more important than a "habitat", like Policeman said, 'they're not pets', and don't

much appreciate our decorating attempts.

I keep a temperature and humidity gauge in my screen cages, which I use exclusively, save for one I use for equatorial species

that is made from plastic panels.

I will however, use live plants when possible for larva, it makes early stages much easier, although there is always bit more risk bringing soil

into the closed environment.

One of the easiest species I've ever raised. There must be some problem with the foodplant. I use screen cages for all stages, and periodically

mist larva as well as the pine . The larva don't seem to like the water, but it raises humidity.

I emailed Matthew to see if anyone else has had anything similar happen, but, clearly without a photo, it's just guesswork.

Yes. Matthew Simmonds was the seller.

The only difference in appearance of the cocoons is the mystery animal came from a darker

cocoon, with that being the only difference.