Rearing
communal larvae requires special considerations because of the anount
of frass produced. Often the frass is impossible to clean
- DO NOT keep communal species in plastic film containers
after the eggs hatch
- SALSA JARS should only be used for temprary transportation
or as a last resort
- Generally it is preferable to use inverted large
vaccum jars for small larve and a large aquarium for mature larvae
- It is possible to reduce the colony size by releasing
some of the larvae again but DO NOT attempt to early young colonial
larvae individually or they may look for their siblings instead of
eating and eventually starve
- Older larvae of colonial species can be kept individually
or with only a few others
MORTALITY IS A FACT OF LIFE with communal species
- In general 10% of communal larva will raised in
captivity will die before becoming adults, from disease, malnutrition
and accidents
- Up to 10% of pupa will not emerge correctly
- These rates are considered normal
In order to reduce mortality
- In order to reduce mortality keep lots of airflow
to avoid excess in the frass moisture, which can cause a mold epidemc
- Remove all larvae to a salsa jar and completely
change the plants. Then place the salsa jar under the new plants a
stick a leaf inside the jar. All larvae will usually climb back on
to the plant within 20 minutes.
Be prepared for how much they eat (A colony
Milberts Tortoise Shell larvae will eat 4-5 entire Nettle Plants in
the 5th stage alone).
If possible grow the foodplant in the garden. |
