Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
Does anyone tried to breed hornworms ?
I would like to try it and I found some informations on the web, but I have still some questions...
I'm breeding superworms, silkworms, blaptica dubias and blatta lateralis for the moment, but I would like to add a new variety. I don't mind if it's a lot of work, I like taking care of my feeders (and my herps also!).

For those who tried it, is it really necessary to provide a real plant for the moth to lay eggs on? I don't know, can I give them a plastic plant and remove the eggs after they're laid and provide chow to the baby worms?

Also, can I safely feed silkworms chow to hornworms? I have a lot of silkworms chow, that's why I'm asking.
And did someone tried to do homemade artificial died? I found some recepies but never tried it...

If you have any tips/advices, it will be appreciated!

Thanks a lot!

Lisabeth

Hello,

I am working on this now. You won't find to many people that actually do this themselves. I have only found one other person that actually got them to breed. He is on his fifth generation!!

Anyways from my notes, you do need a live plant. The smell stimulates the senses. It should be some type of a plant that a fruit or vegitable grow on. Preferrably Tomato leaves.

They can survive on the silkworm food just fine.

Hope this helps.

Ernie
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www.midnightdragons.net

Good! Thank you very much for these informations!

I have a last question...Do you know if it's possible to make them pupea by an other way than providing a soil to burrow?

Thanks a lot again

Lisabeth

Lisabeth,

Yeah, you can get them to pupate a bunch of different ways. I have had them pupate in the cups they come in.

I don't know if it is any good or not to do it that way. But, my current method is to place them in a shoebox sized container with aspen bedding. I spray it down to get it humid, place the worms that are wondering into it, and place that in an incubator.

About two weeks after that I take it out and put it into my flying cage. This is the part where I always get hung up because tomato plants aren't available in my area. So, I am going to try a couple of different ways.

Ernie
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www.midnightdragons.net

You can order tomato plants online from the same places that sell vegetable seeds. Off the top of my head, I know Gurney's, Burpees, Parks Seed, and Henry Fields all do. You can also use eggplant plants (same family).

You will also need to provide the moths with some type of nectar feeder. I use a hummingbird feeder since I already had one but you can probably make something that will work.

Make sure the hornworms you are feeding to your dragons haven't been eating the tomato or eggplant, as they are poisonous (nightshade family).

The hornworms don't need any type bedding or substrate to pupate but they do need some humidity to keep from drying out.

If you are already having success with growing your own silkworms, hornworms won't be too difficult, it just takes a long time to get through the whole process. I gave up and just buy eggs now.

Thanks a lot!
I'm going to try it soon...I'll give you some news if it works