Elephant Hawk Caterpillar

[Kymba]

I have just found an Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar that i have brought indoors to hopefully care for until nxt year when it becomes a moth. I have it in a container with a lid (slightly open at mo) i found it on a mud area of my garden. I do not have any of the plants it eats in my garden nor do my neighbours. Is it preparing to pupate? It is still moving about a lot. I have put some soil and potting compost in the container what food should i put in as i dont have what it normally eats!

[Wild-Woman]

If you have any Rosebay Willowherb or Fushias, they will eat them. I'd put some in to see if it wants more. If not it will try to pupate and will need some soil and a moist (not damp/wet) environment. Then sit back and wait until next year!
It will need a cool place too.No centrally heated room.
Other's will assist more I'm sure Kym.

Your school children will be interested too! Good topic to work with.

[naturegirl]

If it was walking around in an area of soil then it was probably looking to go down into the soil to pupate. It is the right time of year for this to happen.

It will burrow into the soil and spin a silken coccoon around itself and pupate. So you should have about 6 inches of soil and this needs to be kept damp but NOT wet ar it will die.

You must also have some sticks poking out of the soil by about 6-12 inches so that when it emerges, it has something to climb up and let it's wings hang down so they can expand. Without the sticks it's wings cannot expand within the 1-1.5 hour time slot which is crucial and they will 'set' as they are which would be very sad.

Naturegirl

[Kymba]

Thanks Guys.. I have managed to get some fushia leaves from my neighbour..and moved them ( yep found another one today out on my patio nowhere near any plants or mud) into a more suitable container that can hold 6 inches of soil (mixed) and some sticks. One is really active, they other one has hardly moved, so i think they are at different stages in preparing to pupate.
One question how often do i add water to keep soil damp ????

[naturegirl]

Hi Kymba, just spray water with one of those misting things from garden centres (about £1) about once a week. Give it a good-ish soak making the surface moist but be guided by the weather and dampness locally.

You do not want to make the soil wet or allow bacteria/mould to form so a good airflow is essential.

Imagine that the pupa is in the ground (as it would be) and treat accordingly. It is better to keep it drier rather than too wet.

Good luck!

Naturegirl

[Kymba]

Thankyou Naturegirl

Went out to look at them this afternoon and both have disappeared into the soil.

Have made a homemade container for them in a 5litre Water Bottle, which i cut just below the neck filled with soil .. put in some twigs for them and some fushia leaves (will remove now) then taped top back together and have a new Soap tablet net bag that i have over where lid goes and put elastic band round it...So it gets lots of frsh air...nearer May i will remove the top half and put in longer Twigs for them where ones are now ( so wont hurt them)
I have it outside at mo in a protected shaded area ... not sure when i should move it into the outhouse..

[Jim Ford]

I haven't see one for years and am jealous!

When I had one I put it into a jar with a layer of peat and a stick, and left it on the kitchen window over the sink (which is cool and shady). I didn't cover the jar, because as the sink is visited several times a day for washing up, it was always under observation. The moth hatched out fine the following year.

Jim

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I haven't see one for years and am jealous!

When I had one I put it into a jar with a layer of peat and a stick, and left it on the kitchen window over the sink (which is cool and shady). I didn't cover the jar, because as the sink is visited several times a day for washing up, it was always under observation. The moth hatched out fine the following year.

Jim

I hadn't seen one in ages either found one, one day then next day i found the 2nd
I dont know if my kitchen is cool enough as it is small and gets really warm when i am cooking.. but the window sill maybe ok.... I only had top covered because one was really active.. but now they have buried themselves i dont need to.. Just cant wait till next may

[Harry Eales]

Originally Posted by Kymba

I have just found an Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar that i have brought indoors to hopefully care for until nxt year when it becomes a moth. I have it in a container with a lid (slightly open at mo) i found it on a mud area of my garden. I do not have any of the plants it eats in my garden nor do my neighbours. Is it preparing to pupate? It is still moving about a lot. I have put some soil and potting compost in the container what food should i put in as i dont have what it normally eats!

Kymba,

The Elephant Hawk Moth larvae pupates on the surface of the ground, not beneath it as many other moth species do. The larvae will draw together several dry leaves locking them together with a thin web of silk.

The larvae usually have an oily look to them when they are about to pupate.

Once they have started to spin up, leave them strictly alone for at least a fortnight, this will ensure that the larvae has pupated and the pupal case has hardened. Overwinter them in a very cool place, a garage shelf should be fine as long as the said garage isn't heated or subject to long periods of sunshine during the winter months.

The spraying of water is not necessary until about April next year when the adults are forming up in the pupal case. A light spray once or twice a week is all that is needed. (don't drown them) just one pass with the spray gun is all you need.

The pupae should be placed on corrugated cardboard in the bottom of a cardboard shoe box, the sides of which should be heavily scratched to produce a rough surface that the emerging moth can grip when it is expanding and drying it's wings. A piece of netting from your local drapers shop will act as a lid, but let you see what is happening.

Never place the larvae or pupae in direct sunlight, they don't like it and it could prove fatal.

Harry

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by Harry Eales

Kymba,

The Elephant Hawk Moth larvae pupates on the surface of the ground, not beneath it as many other moth species do. The larvae will draw together several dry leaves locking them together with a thin web of silk.

The larvae usually have an oily look to them when they are about to pupate.

Once they have started to spin up, leave them strictly alone for at least a fortnight, this will ensure that the larvae has pupated and the pupal case has hardened. Overwinter them in a very cool place, a garage shelf should be fine as long as the said garage isn't heated or subject to long periods of sunshine during the winter months.

The spraying of water is not necessary until about April next year when the adults are forming up in the pupal case. A light spray once or twice a week is all that is needed. (don't drown them) just one pass with the spray gun is all you need.

The pupae should be placed on corrugated cardboard in the bottom of a cardboard shoe box, the sides of which should be heavily scratched to produce a rough surface that the emerging moth can grip when it is expanding and drying it's wings. A piece of netting from your local drapers shop will act as a lid, but let you see what is happening.

Never place the larvae or pupae in direct sunlight, they don't like it and it could prove fatal.

Harry

Oh dear now i have a problem then.. because was told they pupate buried in about 6inches soil.... so followed what i was told to do.. and today they have actually buried themselves in the soil... as i can't see them on the surface.. and they couldnt get out as top was well sealed they also couldnt climb up side of the container to reach the top.... What should I do ???????