Yeah i'm not expecting much with the eggs but they are in the fridge non the less. Good luck with those species I received pupae from both 2 years ago from our friend. Splendens was really fun to raise. im trying Attacus Lorquni at the moment.

Any update of the cocoons Kevin? I was able to get a pairing but for some reason the copulation only lasted 30 mins. Treating the eggs as fertile but concerned. I had the same hatching response as our friend, females hatching early and males taking their time. Was excited to to complete the cycle but I guess we will see.

Well the first Rhodinia Verecunda moth eclosed today. A female. Hoping for the rest to come out soon. How has yours been doing Kevin?

My smallest one just spun up today so that is all of them. How has your smaller ones progressed?

well the majority of them have spun up except for the smaller one. I very rarely heard the signature "squeaking" till they start to spin where they would squeak at me just opening the enclosure. Most spun up with in a day or two which was a nice surprise. Now just have to wait till winter.

How are the rest of yours doing Kevin? especially the smaller ones?

Nice, the open ended lime green cocoons is something I have been looking forward too. I just saw one spinning today so after 2 months of worrying they are starting. I also have one that is half the size of the others for reasons I don't know. Its eating fine just not growing.

It seemed like their first instar was really difficult and some would just not make it even after eating, I wonder if it is humidity or heat but its not surprising that everybody was having this issue. Would like to know how their setup was to figure out the issue.

The hardest part for Dubernardi was having a male and female eclose around the same time. I have found the males without a female become panicky and will exhaust them selves by flying around and die with in 5 days while females being less panicky usually last up to a week. If you can get a pair to come out at the same time, they are not tricky to pair.

Hows the caterpillars doing Kevin? I have a feeling they might start spinning soon although I heard they stay in the 5th instar for awhile.

4-8 weeks some may go into dormancy and hatch alot later. I have found males usually hatch quicker than the females

Good to hear about the ceanothus, I wasn't aware they could eat that. Haven't tried lilac with a species but I hear it is pretty popular. Unfortunately all the nurseries around me use chemicals and would have to specially order it which would take too much time.

Yes I did get a email for the death heads moth. Its a species I have wanted to raise for awhile but at the moment have way to many caterpillars that it would be pushing it. Maybe when the species I'm raising start spinning I might be lucky to find one. I started to guess we had the same seller when we both had a rarer species hatching at the same time and both in the US. Its nice to know for the future if we both pick up the same species and can trade what works and doesn't. Did you pick up dubernardi recently too?

The caterpillars are starting to beef up and not wander so much, it only took a couple weeks. How are yours Kevin?

Alright thanks I'll try it. I am always scared messing with pre pupal caterpillars and don't want to stress them. I had 4 Euryalus caterpillars not too long ago not spin because I moved their branch to another cage. Have you tried adding the moss tho the bottom of the cage?

What is would you recommend for spinning caterpillars? The few batches I have raised before I would let them spin in the pine branches but recently I have seen many people say moss is the best option. I have seen cases where caterpillars in the moss have not spun a cocoon and would just pupate instead. What issues have you had either way, I have some L5s the should be due by this weekend.

Some of my caterpillars have started to molt into L2 now although I did lose a few that wouldn't eat anything. They have all switched off the oak and gravitated to the sweetgum. How is your caterpillars doing Kevin?

Still don't see alot of frass but I did see one munching on a oak leaf and on a sweetgum leaf when I swapped out plants, so at least some are eating. I do see some are bunching up together on leafs which I am sure is a good sign. I'm gonna wait 3/4 days before doing a good search of the leafs for signs of eating. What temperature are you keeping yours at

Thanks I'll try the misting. Still don't see any signs of feeding but a couple are grouped on sweetgum. I added some willow and have cherry ready. 3 more hatched. but far from the amount I have.

Just had 3 hatch this morning and placed with sweetgum and coast live oak. The are pretty active and roaming. Kevin were yours hatching regularly or in batches? hope to see signs of eating soon

After talking with the seller it seems these have overwintered for 2 months already and are good to warm up. KevinK have yours hatched yet?

I don't know when they were laid, I figured the seller was selling them as recently laid. I have sent a message to him to find out. the only information I have found is that they have to go through diapause but length is never reported.

Would you say a month in the fridge is good then? I don't want to take them out too early