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alch21

promethea question !!!

12 years ago

I am looking for a little bit of advice from fellow moth lovers!
I have found 2 females promethea this Summer and was thrilled when they laid eggs. My first batch hatched on schedule and a lot of very healthy looking cats came out. They only lived 24 hours ( all 100+ ). I have been raising silkmoths very succefully for years but I have never had such a tragedy! I just assumed that something was wrong with the female ( she was looking really rough when I found her ). Fast forward a few weeks later and the same thing happened! All eggs hatch but nobody survives more than a few hours. I am VERY confused !!!!! What is wrong ??? any thoughts ??? I used sweet gum which is listed as host and I use the same food source to currently feed my lunas and polyphemus. Thanks for your help

Comments (9)

  • 12 years ago

    I use sweetgum with prometheas but there are regional differences. I know of people who raise them on tulip tree but when I have tried them on mine, they refuse to eat and quickly die.

  • 12 years ago

    I'm confused. I don't know anything about promethea moths, but what species of tree were the eggs laid on? Wouldn't that be the correct species to feed them?
    Liz

  • 12 years ago

    KC, I used sweet gum with the first few of this last hatch and tulip tree with the later hatch of the day and had same results. I have used both in the past with no trouble and this year it is a complete catastrophe.
    I am currently using that same tree to feed lunas and polys so I know the tree is not the problem. Very strange!
    I have a few more eggs still to hatch so I am trying to figure this out in hope to save the last few little guys!

  • 12 years ago

    Do they blanket spray for mosquitoes or Gypsy Moths in your area?

  • 12 years ago

    'Sounds to me like something's wrong with the moths, not the host plant. Having posted that, since they're known as the spicebush silkmoth, I'd try sassafras or spicebush.

    Sherry

  • 12 years ago

    Spicebush and chokecherry are the other two hostplants I use.

    One other possible answer pops to mind: Did you get food to them soon after hatching? I don't think I've had problems with prometheas in that regard but it has bitten me in the butt with at least one species.

  • 12 years ago

    Mrs. Sherry, i tried spicebush and my little sassafras is not quite big enough to sustain a few cats. several of my trees took a big shock this winter after the polar temps we had here in South Carolina.
    I got the food to them ( transfer the cats to another container with food ) as soon as they crawled to the top of the container free from their egg. I used the same practice for all my silkmoths. Should I wait longer KC ?

    City Spraying for mosquito is also a possibility but I would be more concerned if all my moths were having a problem. Only the prometheas !!!

  • 12 years ago

    You're fine. My post was about waiting too long causing problems. I believe it is tulip tree moth cats that I found pretty much need food immediately or else.

  • 12 years ago

    Try a ash species not wafer ash though. Black,white or green ash or black cherry.
    Jacob

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