Rearing Limacodidae caterpillars that you find on the ground

Just a note to those that find limacodid caterpillars on the ground and may be concerned about finding the right plants to feed them.

Finding a caterpillar like this often means that it is a fully grown instar looking for a place to make a cocoon (pupation takes place later inside the cocoon). In other words - easier to raise it to adult!!!!

This observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/96306931 is a classic example of what we are seeing a lot of lately on iNaturalist.

If you see one like this put it in a container with some dry leaves and gravel. I also recommend a few fresh leaves as well if there is a tree in the near vicinity that looks like the caterpillar make have been blown off. The tree should have smooth (not hairy) and tough leaves.

This hedges our bets because it can possibly provide food if it is a lost caterpillar looking for plants, or you can provide a site for it to build a cocoon in the bottom of the container.

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Publicado el lunes, 27 de septiembre de 2021 a las 08:08 PM por marcepstein marcepstein

Comentarios

Wonderful information, @marcepstein ! I will definitely keep this in mind if I catch any mature limacodids roaming around!
Thanks for sharing!

Anotado por tcooley hace mas de 2 años

Thanks for the information. Will report if I am able to raise any Limacodid caterpillars.

Anotado por ivijayanand hace mas de 2 años

Thank you very much. This info is very useful.

Anotado por kt_ton hace mas de 2 años

Hope to find one - anywhere! Thanks for instructions.

Anotado por krancmm hace mas de 2 años

Excellent, thank you! The few limacodids I've found have so far cocooned on the upper surface of leaves (or fell to parasites before cocooning), but I'll keep this in mind!

Anotado por franzanth hace mas de 2 años

I can only echo these wise thoughts, observations and hints from @marcepstein , as well as the frustration r.e. parasite loadings noted by @franzanth

Anotado por hkmoths hace mas de 2 años

Thanks for sharing! @marcepstein
I want more people in Colombia to have access to this valuable information, so if it's ok with you, I would like to translate your instructions on rearing Limacodidae and credit you. Hopefully, instructions in Spanish would get more folks to raise caterpillars! Let me know what you think:)

Anotado por andreacjimenez hace mas de 2 años

Yes, of course!

Anotado por marcepstein hace mas de 2 años

@hkmoths Do you think someone could translate my journal about rearing limacodids into Chinese? I’m really trying to get out the message about rearing from eggs in addition to caterpillars so we don’t only rear wasps & flies!

Anotado por marcepstein hace mas de 2 años

@marcepstein , perhaps ask @kitlaw ?

Anotado por hkmoths hace mas de 2 años

Yes - just added @kitlaw - sorry for the oversight!

Anotado por marcepstein hace mas de 2 años

I don't have much experience in raising it. Just if you know its host plant, try to find that for it, and then wait for the result😊

Anotado por kitlaw hace mas de 2 años

Yes, I'm thinking that if it on the ground it may not need to feed anymore - ready to build cocoon. Also, many limacodids are less particular with what to feed them.

I'm hoping we can raise more so we know the species of these amazing caterpillars.

Thank you!

Anotado por marcepstein hace mas de 2 años

If I find it on the ground or railings, I will try to find some dead leaves, dead branches, or some small fallen flowers, which may sometimes be eaten😜

Anotado por kitlaw hace mas de 2 años

Thank you very much Marc!

Anotado por lilianapradalara hace mas de 2 años

I observed that most of the limacodids I see stay on the same branch without moving a lot. They only move a lot when they want to molt/shed or, as you say, when they are finally searching for their final place to pupate.

Anotado por danielmesa1 hace mas de 2 años

In case you are looking for a foodplant of a genus that occurs from southern North America through South America or a tropical Limacodidae - put the name under caterpillar on left at Janzen’s site

http://janzen.sas.upenn.edu/caterpillars/database.lasso

Anotado por marcepstein hace mas de 2 años

Oh & click for food plant summary- look at
Cat photos too

Anotado por marcepstein hace mas de 2 años

@julianbiol Mirá. Te puede interesar...

Anotado por danielmesa1 hace mas de 2 años

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