Elephant hawk moth larva

kiwi · #1 (**permalink**) 19-09-2009, 08:47 PM

Hey guys
I got a elephant hawk moth today from my half-sisters mother and it was in a tin with no food and it wasn't moving much. Apparently she found it crawling along the patio and the cat was playing with it (chasing it and poking it i suppose) Anyway i took it home and now its in a tin with a some broad-leaved willow herb and some bark and soil. I want to keep it to next spring when it turns into a moth but at the moment it's not moving unless you disturb it, then it will crawl around for a while. It just stays in one place and hasn't eaten any of the willow herb. Im quite worried as i want to see the adult form. Anyone know what its up to and how i can look after it. It seemed like it was just cold before but its in my room now and it's quite warm and its still not eating.
Please help. Could it just be trying to settle down to form a pupae?
Should i keep it in my room or the shed?
Is it going to die?

Thanks in advance.

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 19-09-2009, 08:59 PM

Sounds like it's about ready to pupate. If you have soil in the tin, it will pupate in that. When it emerges next year,it will need some sticks to climb up. It might be better to put them in now so you don't accidently poke it whilst it's still a pupa. Keep it in a cool place, away from direct light. An airy garage/shed should be ok. The soil shouldn't dry out but then it certainly shouldn't be saturated either.
Good luck!

kiwi · #3 (**permalink**) 19-09-2009, 09:15 PM

ohh thankyou, i have a fish tank in the greenhouse, ill put some moist soil in that tomorrow and put some sticks and a bit of willow herb in there for it, the sheds open most days so it will get plenty of fresh air. Thankyou

Should i go out and get some great willow herb or will the broad-leaved willow herb be ok if it does decide to eat?

Wild-Woman · #4 (**permalink**) 19-09-2009, 09:48 PM

Can do but it's probably eaten all it needs. It was probably off to pupate when the cat found it.
Just a word of warning. Caterpillars are quite often parasitised by another insects so don't beat yourself up if it doesn't make it. It's all part and parcel of the natural world.