HELP - Elephant Hawk Moth Hatched November!

[Kazza101]

Hi, please can someone give me some advice?

I found three elephant hawk moth larvae in the garden earlier in the year. We kept them in a jar - well fed - until they pupated. Unfortunately, not really thinking about it - which I now regret no end - we didn't even consider the temperature. I now realise they should have been kept outside but that doesn't help the poor little guy (or girl) who has now hatched out.

We have kept caterpillars / larvae several times over the last two years in the same way, as i have a 5 year old little boy who enjoys watching them transform and I think its a great way of him learnig about their life cycles. As they have all been quite successful, the temperature never occured to me. I knew they shouldn't be hatching until next year so I just kept them safe on a shelf in the house.

Now one has hatched. And to make matters worse, his wings dont seem to have unfurled properly either. So even if he wanted to fly away, he cant.

What is the best thing I can do for him? After doing a little research (I realise I should have done this before which would have prevented this - lesson learned!) I have been trying to get him to feed on a mixture of honey and water. he seems to be taking it but only if I help him to start with by teasing his feeding tube down to the mixture with a cocktail stick (i read in several places to do this but am open to better suggestions as I'm really worried I might injure him). If this is the best way, how often should I be doing it?

Also, the two pupa that are left, should I now put them outside so they dont hatch early, or would this be even worse now they are used to the warm environment of the house?

Any advice greatfully received, as i really want to try and do the best I can for them now that I have pretty much ruined their chances of leading the life they were meant to!

[tcvarlh]

Try getting in touch with these folk : http://www.lba.uk.com/Elephant-Hawk-...nor_AA78V.aspx Elephant Hawk-Moth (D.elpenor) They should be some help
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[naturegirl]

Hi Kazza101 and welcome to WAB!

You must not feel guilty about the Elephant hawk moth, they only have about 30 minutes to climb up a twig/branch and hang down to allow their wings to inflate and set.

At least you were teaching the next generation about nature, so well done you!

The best thing you can do with the other pupa is to dig a small hole about 3-6 inches deep in garden soil and bury them outside. They would naturally go walkabout and bury themselves in soil before pupating. When they emerge the soil will hold the pupal case and they will be able to extacate themselves from this and climb up something/anything so as to allow their wings to inflate and 'set'.

You may have seen tropical butterfly houses with pupal cases glued to sticks. This so that they can pull their bodies out of the pupal case and expand their wings. If the pupal case is not held securely, as in your case, the newly emerging adult cannot break free before it's wings become 'fixed' within the 30 minute deadline.

Hope this helps.

Naturegirl