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How to Take Care of a Modest Sphinx Larva

The modest sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta) is a large, brown moth with more colorful hindwings. It is widespread in the United States and Canada. Their larvae are bright green caterpillars with a few white or yellow stripes and red dots, and small horns at the rear end. To raise these caterpillars, all you need is sufficient food, a well-ventilated cage and somewhere for them to pupate. Neither the adult moths nor the larvae are pest species so raising them shouldn't cause any problems.

Things You'll Need

10-gallon fish tank or large plastic box
Old newspapers
Paper cups
Poplar twigs with leaves
Muslin
Elastic band
Potting compost
Bare twigs

Instructions

- 1
  Add a layer of old newspapers to the tank.
- 2
  Add an inch of water to one paper cup.
- 3
  Make a hole in the bottom of the second paper cup. Push the second paper cup into the first paper cup.
- 4
  Put poplar twigs with leaves into the paper cup arrangement, pushing the end of the twigs through the hole. This arrangement prevents a small caterpillar from falling into the water and drowning.
- 5
  Put the caterpillar in the tank and secure muslin over the top of the tank with a large elastic band.
- 6
  When the caterpillar has nearly eaten the leaves, add another paper cup and twig arrangement to the tank. Place it next to the previous one and allow the caterpillar to crawl across by itself.
- 7
  Replace the newspapers every day or couple of days to keep the cage clean. When the caterpillar has stopped feeding and started wandering around the tank, replace the newspapers with 5 inches of slightly damp potting compost. It pupates in this.
- 8
  Leave the tank in a cool place, such as a garage or garden shed, over the winter. The moth will emerge in the spring.
- 9
  Release the moth only if modest sphinxes are a native species in your area. Otherwise, keep it as a pet.

Insects & Science