Happy New Year all!
Same thread as before but a whole year of moth hunting ahead of us. You don't need lots of expensive equipement to set up light traps, a budget of around £20 should be enough, have a look on the old thread HERE or ask again, there is always (almost) someone who knows. Wendy is our surrogate mum & has a house & shed full of caterpillars & pupas & breeding adults!
The moths are still coming to feed on the rope in the garden. All you need is to dissolve 0,5Kg of sugar in 0,5 litres of wine, by gently heating up & stirring. Then pour the mixture into an old pan & put in a natural fibre rope or cord. (Don't put the ends in as it gets messy). Leave to soak a day & hang in the garden from a tree or bush or between posts. Then go back just after dark & see who's feeding. I tend to pop out about every half hour until bedtime. Then the fun starts as you try to get the camera settings right for the photos. The rope tends to work for about 3 days & then needs redipping during the day before the 4th night. Here are some "library pictures"
My rope is now a lot shorter as I only have 1 tree & just loop it from one low branch, it needs to be about 4ft from the ground. Here is one from 30 December, a Chestnut
Everone is welcome!
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France
Hardly ate yesterday, but 18 poos this morning! i've decided to change it's routine & put fresh food in at the end of the day as I think it eats at night & the leaves are a bit shrivelled by the morning. Still, I haven't killed it, yet which our heavy frosts may have done! It's lived longer than most of my houseplants!
Probably is nocturnal, survival strategy in the wild most likely! Dandelion leaves shrivel quickly so may need refreshing twice daily!
Hazel C said:Still, I haven't killed it, yet which our heavy frosts may have done! It's lived longer than most of my houseplants
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
I've had it's identity confirmed so I'm really keen to do this properly, fingers & toes crossed please!
This is a photo from yesterday,
Bigger & slightly different colour.
Looking good H!
Unknown said: Just read that the leftover silkworm cocoons are good for getting rid of wrinkles so save some for the ladies on here lol
Just read that the leftover silkworm cocoons are good for getting rid of wrinkles so save some for the ladies on here lol
WendyBartter said:Probably is nocturnal,
Been reading up on Lunar Underwing & definitely nocturnal!
Update on Indian Silkies at last ... forgot to tell you that I accidentally threw the littlest one in rubbish bin last Friday ... was cleaning them out early afternoon prior to taking to Monkton NR to show the guys there & didn't notice anything amiss 'til cleaning & feeding at one in morning before bed ... eeeekk! Searched the bag but couldn't find, felt guilty ... next morning I searched bag again & found it right at the bottom still on a couple of leaves! Phew
Put it in separate box with fresh stuff, it moved a bit but then went inert for next two worrying days & thought it might die ... lo & behold, on third day it shed skin so knew it was OK, been moving & growing & feeding ever since!
This was it on 17th
21st & having a problem
Vid is speeded up but Mick made me laugh saying 'can't believe I've just spent 3+ minutes watching a caterillar poo, will never get that time back!' roflol
Should have some silk cocoons as they started spinning on 19th Feb
WendyBartter said: Probably is nocturnal, Been reading up on Lunar Underwing & definitely nocturnal! [/quote]Yes I agree, 3 poos in the day & 14 last night! Seems to eat grass, did you see if it says any other plants Wendy Best wishes Hazel in Southwest France
Probably is nocturnal,
[/quote]Yes I agree, 3 poos in the day & 14 last night! Seems to eat grass, did you see if it says any other plants Wendy
WendyBartter said:Vid is speeded up but Mick made me laugh saying 'can't believe I've just spent 3+ minutes watching a caterillar poo, will never get that time back!' roflol
Could you put a prune in for it to eat! LOL