Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This guy is gorgeous! I have always been fascinated by the larger moths, and would really appreciate some care info for the caterpillar my grandson nicknamed 'Gloworm'. We live in Alabama and from what I have researched so far, they feed on persimmon leaves in the south. We have him in a large screened enclosure with some persimmon branches, but don't really know how else to help him develop into the beautiful moth. I know he needs to be outside so the weather helps him cocoon, but beyond that...help please? Thanks so much!

Mostly it's a matter of keeping the caterpillar warm and well fed - offer it lots of food and replace with fresh stuff every day and keeping the cage it's in clean.

You will want to probably offer more than just persimmon leaves. The opportunity for a caterpillar to have more than one suitable food choice helps sometimes.

Besides persimmon, luna cats are known to feed from a variety of trees including white birch, sweet gum, hickories, walnuts, and sumacs.
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Wyvern

The Invert Collection:
* (1) Aphonopelma anax - Texas Tan
* (1) Avicularia geroldi - Brazilian Blue Pinktoe
* (1) Brachypelma auratum - Mexican Flameknee
* (1) Brachypelma emilia - Mexican Red-leg
* (1) Brachypelma smithi - Mexican Red-knee
* (1) Cyclosternum fasciatum - Costa Rican Tiger Rump
* (1) Eupalaestrus campestratus - Pink Zebra Beauty
* (2) Grammostola pulchra - Brazilian Blacks
* (1) Lasiodora parahybana - Brazilian Salmon Birdeater
* (1) Nhandu chromatus / Lasidora cristata - Brazilian Red & White (aka White Striped Birdeater)
* (1) Nhandu coloratovillosus - Brazilian Black & White
* (1) Theraphosa blondi - Goliath Bird Eater
* (1) Latrodectus variolus - Northern Widow w/egg sac
* (~12) Latrodectus variolus - Northern Widow spiderlings

Hello! How wonderful that you found a luna cat! In your area they primarily feed on persimmon (as you noted), hickories, walnut, sumac and sweetgum. Keep in mind that once it begins feeding on a species you need to offer this same one. Some of us have had luck getting larva to switch host plants but it is not recommended. Phwyvern’s suggestion of offering more than one is better to see which it will take (this is typically determined by the plant the parents fed on, but not always).

Some things to consider:
If this is a very early instar (young – less than 1”) you want to keep in a container to maintain humidity at the same time not letting it get too humid where mold happens. If 3rd-5th instar (approx 1”- 3”) it will be fine in the screen cage.

Make sure the food plant did not come from an area that has been sprayed or grown with any biocides.

If it begins to wander around, when there is still plenty of food, that means it is looking for a place to spin and pupate. You might also see very runny frass (poop) on leaves or the floor of the cage. Luna usually spin up on the branch, but will sometimes drop to the ground and spin in leaf litter. You can scatter leaves just in case. It is better if it spins completely in the leaves than on the screen so you can transport it to a place for it to remain during its quiescent time (aka diapause).

Once it spins you do not want to move or reorient it for at least a couple weeks as it will be pupating inside. If it get disoriented it will likely die in the cocoon.

Hope all of this helps!

Wow thanks for all the great ideas! I am offering a variety of leaves from trees in the area we found it. I know there aren't any pesticides on the leaves because we found it on some property we just bought at the top of a small mountain. It's quite a good size and FAT so I do believe it's in a late instar stage. Hopefully we will get to see it cocoon and emerge as a beautiful moth. Thanks again!

You are welcome. I have been rearing the Saturniids for several years and love to see others' get excited about them, too!

Curious as to which food plant it settled on or have you actually seen it eat (not just taste, but actually eat) on a variety?

Once it spins up, it will likely eclose within about 30-60 days in your area. According to my favorite reference book, adults have been observed in every month of the year in LA.

How old is your grandson? Sometimes, if you are very quiet, you can actually hear the caterpillar chewing. Once it gets closer to pupation its feeding becomes almost frenetic! Please keep us updated on its progress and take lots of photos!

lele

btw, be sure that there are no holes in the screening where any insects can get through. There are parasitic flies and wasps (small and thin) that deposit their eggs inside the caterpillar, which then becomes the fly/wasp larvae food.