Julie,

The eggs can look different depending on spp and location, but cutworms or armyworms they are highly destructive.

I do not think it is worth it. Depending on species both cut and armyworms can winter over in their larval or pupal stage. Do you have the setup to maintain HUGE colonies of these? I do it with harmless, wonderful wild silks and this time every year I am to the point of "I can't wait until they all spin!" LOL! and this is a labor of love!!

But seriously, I wouldn't bother. The risk of adding to the invasion will NOT be appreciated by your community What if your cham tires of them? Any gravid female moth that gets out (and believe me, it WILL happen - sort of like crix, no matter how careful you are...) has the potential to contribute 100's of her progeny to your garden and surrounding areas.

Interestingly, armyworms do not overwinter in much of New England. The moth flies to warmer climate, lays her eggs which then migrate north - pretty scary, huh?

Check out these sites for info from U Maine.

http://pmo.umext.maine.edu/factsht/armyworms.htm
http://pmo.umext.maine.edu/factsht/cutwm.htm
http://pmo.umext.maine.edu/swetcorn/fall.htm

So maybe just collect some for the chams in the fall as a treat

lele

p.s. One note about caterpillar anatomy. The prolegs are actually the ones in the center, (typically 4, but does vary as with the geometrids "inch worms",) and the anal prolegs/claspers. Their true legs (the ones they keep thru metamorphosis) are the 3 pair in the front.
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)

[ Show Entire Thread ]