Privet Hawk Moth catapillar is turning red, why?

ClaireandAaron · #1 (**permalink**) 24-08-2010, 12:46 AM

We caught a Privet Hawk Moth catapillar yesterday and for some reason it turned red on top overnight. What does this mean? If it is distress we will release it but we really want to keep it to observe and it has a lot of room and food.

tcvarlh · #2 (**permalink**) 24-08-2010, 10:00 AM

Hi
It's OK it should do that.
What are you feeding it? They subsist on privet (Ligustrum), lilac (Syringa) and ash (Fraxinus).

2dogs2000 · #3 (**permalink**) 24-08-2010, 08:51 PM

Found this info for you.

The caterpillars are quite pretty; a light green with diagonal white/lilac stripes. Feed them on lilac or privet, changing the food every day. Use a small brush to get them off the old food. They only take four weeks or so to reach their full-size of 10 - 12cm when they go off their food and start turning a bit brown. At this point put 15cm of soil in a plant pot, cover it over, and place them in. They dig deep down to pupate. Put the pot away somewhere quiet, and ignore it until next July, when the pupa will magically hatch within a few days.

I would also add that they should be kept in an outside shed or garage or they will emerge too soon.

Welcome to WAB

k4t3 · #4 (**permalink**) 24-08-2010, 09:10 PM

Lucky old you! Would love to get my hands on a Privet Hawk caterpillar!! I assume that they are the same as all other hawks, in that the cats turn a duller, brown/red colour prior to pupating (the pupal case colour showing through) I understood that these needed a slightly deeper soil to pupate in, around 10" and as stated, need to be kept in a frost free but none heated outhouse in order to get proper emergance

Good luck!

2dogs2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 24-08-2010, 09:27 PM

P.S.They will also need a branch when they emerge so that they can inflate their wings. Good luck. I am also hoping to see a privet hawk moth when mine (hopefully) emerges next year as I have never see one.

ClaireandAaron · #6 (**permalink**) 25-08-2010, 12:44 PM

Hi guys, thanks for all your help but sadly we let him go, he seemed really distressed :-(. Hopefully we will find another one oneday that takes better to captivity.