Pupating?

lisa c · #1 (**permalink**) 29-12-2010, 08:07 PM

Hello there,
A week or so ago i posted on here as i had found a caterpillar on an iceberg lettuce and it was thankfully identified as a 'Scarce Bordered Straw', (it was lovely finding out what it was at last as i didn't know whether to put it outside but i thought the snow etc may have killed it off)
I have put it in an old fish tank and after reading up on them i put the appropiate soil in there for it to hopefully pupate.
After about 24 hours i haven't seen it since so i imagine it has gone under the soil. But my question is do i just leave it there and wait or do i have to wet the soil every so often so that it mimics the outdoors? Also do they come out and feed at this time, so should i put fresh food in there too?
And then finally(!), if i am lucky enough and it survives and becomes a moth should i release it outside straight away or will it still be too cold for a while?
Sorry about the twenty questions but any advice would be really appreciated, many thanks Lisa

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 10:01 AM

Hi Lisa
This is an immigrant species i.e. it is not native to britain. The pupa is a dormant stage and it will emerge as an adult moth in a couple of weeks if kept inside. The moth will not breed or survive for long in this weather sorry.

lisa c · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2011, 07:53 PM

Hi Lance Morgan,
Thankyou for your reply. If it does emerge as a moth will it be possible to keep it inside until the weather warms up or do they not live for very long? I can understand about the weather being too cold to release it and i only hope in my misguided way i haven't helped in it's ultimate demise?
(please forgive my ignorance in these matters), but any information you could give would be greatly appreciated, thankyou Lisa