Large white caterpillars

[Dave McCormick]

I have reared about 50 large white caterpillars to fully grown. They should pupate soon, but something odd is happening, they just keep walking round and round my breeding cage, (black netted one with zip)
now I have somewhere else I have for pupae, so do anyone think I should move the caterpillars or give them more foodplant (its nearly gone, one big leaf left) any help would be appreciated, soon. One looks like its pupating, but I can't be 100% sure, I'll know soon though.

[Piers]

Hi Dave,

Large White larvae will wander for miles in search of a suitable pupation site which is why they are often found in odd locations often a considerable distance from the food plant. I have even found them below the facia boards of houses. The best thing would be to keep them supplied with fresh food (just in case), keep the environment clean, and in time they shall settle. You could try placing some card board or similar on top of the netting cage, they may well settle on the netting and pupate beneath this shelter.

Felix.

[Dave McCormick]

Thanks felix, I thought this migh be the case, I have an old aqurium tank I will move some into and that might work as it has glass sides. I will put some cabbage leaves in too.

[Dave McCormick]

I'll post an image soon when I have hug all pupae in my emergence area. So far, I found 40, might be some more, some are starting to pupate, first time I have had 100% success with all my caterpillars. hopefully I will have all adults too, be one sight to see 40 or more large whites.

[Piers]

Nice one Dave, well done.

[Dave McCormick]

Been a while, but here is my emergence cage (a mini garden I got that is for growing plants inside it), bit of conversion:



The pupae themselves (I have over 30, lost two as they became rotton) I space them enough so when they hatch out they have room to expand wings, and put newspaper on bottom of cage to collect blood from butterflies as they harden wings, and I am putting plants in bottom s they can feed up before I release them:





I now have 50 more caterpillars that are growing nicley, I think by time these are near ready to hatch, I'll have many pre to put in here.

[Dave McCormick]

Sorry for this post, I can't figure how to delete it, see below post

[Dave McCormick]

Some are getting nearer hatching, while some have not even fully hardened yet, here is one large white pupae getting close to hatching:

Large White Pupae

[Susie]

How did you attach them?

[Dave McCormick]

I used a blob of "All purpose" glue and stuck them on with that, I could have used Uhu glue which is probably better, works fine, but did not have any and this is all I had, worked well. That one I posted, hatched a little while ago, one male and its feeding on some white chrysanthemums I had. More look close to hatching

[Susie]

That's great, thanks for letting me know, Dave. I would like to do something similar next year.

[Dave McCormick]

Well Susie, its a nice thing to see them hatch. So far 3, two males and one female. I put my video camera on to record them hatching, but my battery died before it fully hatched, but oh well. Rest are starting to hatch, just another 30 or so left to go.

[Dave McCormick]

One male and a female hatched today, never seen males and females hatch at same time before, thought femalea always hatched later so males could be ready to mate by time they hatch:

[Dave McCormick]

Quick update, I have 81 pupae in total, 10 hatched so far today and all female. Can this hapen? I alwyas thought males hatched first, but all that hatch seem to be female.

[Dave McCormick]

Two shots with my Tamron 18-200mm Macro. One of a newly hatched female and one of 3 females on Buddleiah flower and one female behind.

3 Whites:

3 whites

Newly Hatched:

Newly Hatched female

My room having an 8ft ceiling and this being in corner, I could not remove pupae in time and had to wait until it hatched. Finally got two males close to hatching now. Thought I was only getting females for a long time. I am releasing these soon, could not today as it was fairly wet and raining.

[Susie]

Great stuff, Dave.

[Dave McCormick]

Thanks Susie... got 60 released. See them all flying about in garden now. Working on video for this soon.