Beiträge von paulsg

    Acherontia is different from other moths because it feeds with honey in nature. It never feeds on flowers and usually rejects diluted honey solutions sutable for most butterflies and moths. It is better to propose 50% honey solution. Or even 100% liquid honey, but then you also need to give it water, so I prefer 50% (do not try to feed a butterfly with such a strong solution of honey, it may cause crystallisation of honey in its gut). Sometimes it can eat itself, usually if you have honey in bee's cells (combs). But usually you need to feed it. Take a moth by the thorax with two fingers, one below (between the legs) and one above. Hold it rather strolgly, Acherontia moths are strong and not easy to smash. Do not hold by sides, it makes a moth very annoyed :smiling_face: Using the other hand with a needle, place the needle incide the ring-shaped folded proboscis, unfold it and put into honey solution. The moth may not start eating with the first atempt, but generally does after some tries if it is hungry.
    Acherontia does not need leaves for oviposition, but putting some Solanum or ash or whatever it uses in Indonesia may improve the result.