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Home » Forums » General Discussion

can anyone help with a dagger moth crisis?

My 7 yr old daughter caught a dagger moth caterpillar back in October of 2006 - and it promptly made its cocoon on a stick in a large jar. There it remained until today when she thought it may be dead, because it has not emerged. I have tried to find information on time stages for the pupa but havent found any. She broke open the side of the hard cocoon and it was still in there, but not sure if its dead or not....will it still survive now that the cocoon has been opened? Any help would be greatly appreciated
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Contributed by juliek on 17 July, 2007 - 10:23pm

Most probably
If the pupae is still alive, it will most probably survive the opening of the cocoon.
Just try to close it as best as you can to protect the insects against humidity excess and parasites (but since it is in a jar, no much problem with parasites though).
You can try to gently shake the cocoon, if the pupae is still alive it MAY move.
What i told you there is from my experience breeding Saturnidae, but it must be almost the same with other kind of moth...
… Dany Brown, 18 July, 2007 - 11:05am login or register to post comments

 
dagger moth crisis
Thank you--there were alot of tears last night...hope it is ok. It is not dry or brittle looking, it's smooth and dark and still looks hydrated, so we'll see what happens.

Thanks so much for the reply!
Julie
… juliek, 18 July, 2007 - 5:48pm login or register to post comments

 
Always happy to help, even mo
Always happy to help, even more so when it's for a kid...
… Dany Brown, 18 July, 2007 - 11:46pm login or register to post comments

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