Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Hercules update

We are currently raising some Hercules Moth caterpillars. They hatched out on the 26th of May and one has pupated today, a larval period of 81 days. The growth rate of the caterpillars has been relatively slow given the cooler conditions we have experienced over the recent months. 

A caterpillar emerging from the egg on the 26th May.

24 hours after hatching and the larvae are feeding voraciously and already filling out.

At 24 days old the larvae are substantially larger, but still white in colour.

By 40 days they are pale green in colour and becoming very large caterpillars.

Day 74 – what a whopper!