Help with my elephant hawk moth please!

[Vacui]

Hello everyone!
I just stumbled into this site and got to know a lot about elephant hawk moths!
But im still worried about what to do with mine that is about to become a pupa? (Please excuce my english, thats really not my language).

So... For a week ago or so, me and my boyfriend found this moth caterpillar
and took it home. I totally fell in love with this beautiful creature and decided to let it stay with us! I found out from the internet some info about raising this moths and yesterday, we noticed it was about to get ready for the transformation! So we went out into the woods and got some dead leaves and other woodstuff. We took this big plastic can and got it ready with the leaves and all, and some flower soil(?). (Before that we had him in a glasstank thingie with all the food he needed and soil and stuff).
Our caterpillar, who we named "Friend" have got down under all the leaves now... So... Here my worries begins.... First of all, I must confess that I am ridiculously curious and have been over and looking carefully under the leaves just to see if "Friend" still alive and doing okey. But now I have read that disturbing them can cause them to die! This have left me very upset of my behavior and I am so afraid for him to die! I love that little guy and I really dont mean to do any harm!

And second of all, since this is my first time ever doing anything like this, I am worried that I cant keep him safe enough trough the hole winter.
So my questions are... Where should I keep him?
Right now he has been in the kitchen, but I know he should have a cold place to stay trough the winter so he doesnt come out to early!
We was thinking about having the big plastic can with all the wood stuff in, (and him in it ofcourse), outside in our garden, under a small tree. But now I have been reading that if there is sunlight it wouldnt be okey? The winters here can get really cold, can it get to cold for him? Is a plastic can a good thing to keep him in? How do I know if it gets to dry?
Once he have become a pupa(?), can we take the pupa out of the plastic can into a smaller one instead (Im thinking that would be an easier way to find a good location for him to be in under the winter)?

So please someone! Again, were can I keep him trough the winter?
Can it be too cold outside in the garden?
Can I move him/dig him up when he is a pupa and put him in another can or something? Could I keep him in a small jar while being a pupa, in the refrigerator or something maybe? Or maybe just let him stay in the can on the balkony? Please, all tips are really appreciated!

Do you think I have damaged him to much already with looking under the leaves to see if he was doing okey? I have not touched him, just poked carefully on the leaves above him so I could see under it all that he was still looking good.
I really hope I didnt harm him!

And please, again, sorry for my horrible english! And for this long post!
I hope someone will have the time, to look into it and give me some helpfull advice about what I can do and should do!

Thank you all!

Vacui

[Vacui]

Im realizing my post must have been too long or too stupid,
but please someone! Help me out?

Im really worried about my elephant hawk moth caterpillar!
What can I do to take the best of care for him under his pupa/cocoon stage?

[Harry Eales]

Vacui,

Leave your Elephant Hawk larvae alone for at least a month. Do not seal the container that it is in, as the leaves may go mouldy and spread to the pupae. It can take several days for a EH larvae to spin up and more days before it changes into a pupae. Then the pupal case has to harden. So poking around will potentially do damage.

Over winter the pupa in a cold place, remember they can survive hard frosts outside. A greenhouse or an outbuilding is not suitable as they heat up rapidly in even weak winter sunshine, If you have a cellar or an old fashioned pantry or even a cupboard under the stairs (without heating pipes running through it) all will be suitable.

After a month I woud suggest you remove the leaves one by one until you find several spun togather by silk threads which look like a fine net, the pupae will be inside if all is well. Lift the pupa out gently including the spun together leaves and put in into an empty cardboard box, a shoe box is suitable. Scratch the sides with a knife or other instrument, the rough surface is needed by the emerging moth to expand it's wings. A few layers of paper tissues of tissue or kitchen paper should cover the bottom of the box and stop the pupa rolling around. If the moth has burrowed into the soil gently brush away the soil until you find it, and remove it to the box.

In late April/early May spray the pupa lightly with tepid water once every two or three days, A LIGHT spray only is necessary, don't drown it. It should emerge anytime from mid May onwards.

Good luck,

Harry

[Vacui]

Thank you Harry Eales for your respond!
Im gonna wait for a month before I dig him up then,
I really hope he is doing fine down there and that he will do what he has to without any complications! Its going to be a hard month since I am terribly nervous about if he is doing alright or not! I really really hope hes fine!

Thanks!

[Harry Eales]

Originally Posted by Vacui

Thank you Harry Eales for your respond!
Im gonna wait for a month before I dig him up then,
I really hope he is doing fine down there and that he will do what he has to without any complications! Its going to be a hard month since I am terribly nervous about if he is doing alright or not! I really really hope hes fine!

Thanks!

Hello Vacui,

My pleasure, if you look around through the previous posting you will find a number relating to breeding Elephant Hawk larvae.

Don't worry about your larvae, if you have damaged it, then it will probably be dead already, if you haven't, it should get along fine.

One last tip, it is always easier on the pupa or cocoon it you lift them using a large metal spoon (a large tablespoon is ideal). If you use your fingers you could use too much pressure on the very fragile pupal case.

Regards,

Harry

[Vacui]

Well, I guess the only thing I can do is to wait 3 more weeks until I can see how hes doing. Then I will now if he survived or not.

Thanks for your tips!
Ill use a spoon and will carry him gently!

Thanks for everything!