DIAPAUSE CONDITIONS

The following suggestions for storage of diapaused livestock are just that -- suggestions ! They are not meant to be definitive, but they are either the methods which I use or those recommended by others who successfully rear that particular species. All temperatures are in Centigrade / Celsius [to convert to Farenheit, multiply by 9, divide by 5 and add 32]. A refrigerator is indispensible when storing overwintering pupae, ova etc. A dedicated one is virtually essential if spouse conflicts are to be avoided. [particularly around Christmas time when space is at a premium] In fact, an old 'fridge can be picked up for next to nothing, or often free if you are prepared to collect it. They seldom break down, so no-one replaces them until they get tatty, and who, other than a nutty bug collector, wants a tatty, second hand 'fridge. In fact, if you've got the space, go for two. I've got a large, 5ft. high model [I got paid for taking this one away] and a smaller'under the work-surface' type. I set one at 3to4C and the other around 12C. I use them all year round. Last Summer I put a cage full of male Atlas adults in the larger one for nearly three weeks until I had females start to emerge. Remember that things can dry out in a 'fridge. I always use a fairly airtight box for ova and breathe on the inside lid every three weeks or so.

OVA

HAWKMOTHS

This one's easy. As far as I'm aware, there are no Hawks that overwinter as ova .Unless, of course, someone knows better.................

SILKMOTHS

Dictyoploca species. (simla and japonica) Overwinter in the 'fridge. Remove them just as the buds are starting to break. They then hatch in about 3 weeks.

Antheraea yamamai They overwinter as a fully formed caterpillar in the ovum. They will hatch 2 or 3 days after removal from the 'fridge. After hatching, they can be kept for a couple of weeks in the 'fridge if necessary

Caligula boisduvali Treat as Simla .

BUTTERFLIES

OTHERS

LARVAE

 

HAWKMOTHS

 

SILKMOTHS

 

BUTTERFLIES

 

OTHERS

PUPAE

 

HAWKMOTHS

Generally, North-Eastern American Sphinxes must be stored in a 'fridge in Britain and the warmer parts of mainland Europe. They do not like our warmer, humid Winters. Equally, Northern European species would probably not survive the extreme cold and are best kept in the 'fridge in Northerly U.S.A.

SILKMOTHS

I never keep Silkmoths in the 'fridge although I'm sure many would be perfectly happy there. Diapause properties for many species are not fully understood.

AFRICAN SPECIES seem to react to moisture rather than to day length or temperature, so to break diapause I put the pupae in a bucket of tepid water for a few hours, and thereafter keep them warm and wet.

 

 

BUTTERFLIES

 

OTHERS

MENU