Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me where to buy some already prepared? This is for Manducas, Not Hyles or other species if that means anything. I know laboratories use the formula to feed the nightshade sphinxes. I need to know where I can get some since my hornworms are running out of fresh food.

Hi, There is a place that sells it, Mulberry Farms, just don't linger too long at the site b/c they sell it for hornworms that are used as feeders to reptiles.

The other option is to make your own provided you can get all the ingredients.
http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomology/outreach/recipe/manduca.diet.htm
http://insected.arizona.edu/manduca/rear_diet.html

also try Carolina Bio supply and other scientific supply sources, but I think you will find it to be very expensive.

OR...you can raid your neighbors tomato plants! LOL! petunia, potato, green pepper and other plants are in the Solanaceae family so you may be able to find a generous neighbor or buy your little sextas a plant of thier own!

lele
Mulberry Farm

Thank you. Yes, I know most captive-reared hornworms are pet food and used in labwork. I'm guilty of some such things myself with other species. Still, I agree, I can't get all of the ingredients and find Carolina rather expensive on both supplies and live hornworms.
Yes, I have to find a viable alternative to raiding my neighbor's tomato plants. These like black nightshade okay, but I've exhausted all the local Solanum niger on the block. I thought they would eat the groundcherry, but for some reason, they go hungry, rather than eat it. This is off because I know most manducas take so readily to all nightshades except buffalobur. gee, I don't see how anything, even Colorado potato bettles, can tackle buffalobur or bull nettle.
I just love rearing these. It's too bad so many people think they must destroy ever larva they see. I hope to have a garden ful of tomatoes, eggplant and ornamentals like datura and other plants...to attract not only Manducas, but lineatas and achemons as well.

I may have told you this, I have a chameleon (Luna) and I cannot feed her hornworms - just can't do it. I do raise and feed her silkworms (Bombyx mori) and struggle with that. I began giving her those in the winter, but now that I am knee deep in Saturniidae frass (LOL!) I find it much more difficult to give them to her when I have all my cecropia and io cats still feeding.

Mulberry farms is probably your best bet. Which instar are they in? If 4th or 5th you may only have a short time left to feed, though this is when they become voracious!

Oh, meant to ask you - what is puncturevine? I am not familiar with it (at least the common name)

http://www.oneplan.org/Crop/noxWeeds/nxWeed22.htm

http://www.cwma.org/puncturevine.html

thanks for the links. it is not up here in New England (yet) whew! We have enough to contend with and that looks like a real problem - can puncture bike tires? Must be a nightmare for farmers and their livestock - all animals for that matter!!

How are you making out with your hornworm food dilemma????