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Castor Bean plants or Privet?? Ailanthus?
I am a fiber artist and have a chance to get some viable cocoons of a wild
silk moth that eats either castor bean leaves or privet leaves and apparently not much else. (I want to raise the moths, eggs, worms, and then process the silk from the cocoons, to document the process). Don't castor bean plants go dormant? And ailanthus? But aren't privets evergreen like boxwood? The woman who has been raising these moths year around near Myrtle Beach has raised them successfully on nothing but privet (with some castor leaves in summer). It is so hard to find viable cocoons of the wild silk moths, I REALLY don't want to miss this chance, but I have no privet, and no logical place to plant any. (Plus, if I bought some, I could not be sure the plants had not been sprayed, and might have residue, but most folks on this list know if or when they sprayed....) Does anyone around Apex/RTP area have BIG healthy (spray-free of course) privet bushes that could tolerate a light, even pruning for about 3 weeks? Apparently the moths would be ready to emerge from their cocoons in a week or so. They won't eat much till the 3rd and 4th weeks, but by then their appetites will be prodigious (I know because I am currently raising domestic silk worms on commercial powdered mulberry leaves). I would need to harvest an increasing quantity of small branches every few days. If the branches keep fresh in water, I could come a little less often, but the leaves have to be fresh and healthy to make healthy moths. Silk worms increase 10,000-fold from egg to old enough to spin a cocoon, so we would need LOTS of fresh privet branches. The moth is similar to a polyphemus, but a richer brown with some cream and lavender. http://cse-ferg41.unl.edu/pub/leps/i...l?page=cynthia If I can find enough privet plants to feed a clutch or two of eggs, I will be glad to post or email photos of each step of the process, so the entire group can enjoy it. Got privet?? (Or fresh ailanthus or castor bean?) Thanks! laurie (Mother Mastiff) |
Castor Bean plants or Privet?? Ailanthus?
Interesting info! Thanks for sharing pics. I don't got privet but I
sho get a lot of Castor Oil Bean plant volunteers come spring. Let me know if you still need them by then. Minnie On Jan 27, 10:45 pm, "laurie \(Mother Mastiff\)" wrote: I am a fiber artist and have a chance to get some viable cocoons of a wild silk moth that eats either castor bean leaves or privet leaves and apparently not much else. (I want to raise the moths, eggs, worms, and then process the silk from the cocoons, to document the process). Don't castor bean plants go dormant? And ailanthus? But aren't privets evergreen like boxwood? The woman who has been raising these moths year around near Myrtle Beach has raised them successfully on nothing but privet (with some castor leaves in summer). It is so hard to find viable cocoons of the wild silk moths, I REALLY don't want to miss this chance, but I have no privet, and no logical place to plant any. (Plus, if I bought some, I could not be sure the plants had not been sprayed, and might have residue, but most folks on this list know if or when they sprayed....) Does anyone around Apex/RTP area have BIG healthy (spray-free of course) privet bushes that could tolerate a light, even pruning for about 3 weeks? Apparently the moths would be ready to emerge from their cocoons in a week or so. They won't eat much till the 3rd and 4th weeks, but by then their appetites will be prodigious (I know because I am currently raising domestic silk worms on commercial powdered mulberry leaves). I would need to harvest an increasing quantity of small branches every few days. If the branches keep fresh in water, I could come a little less often, but the leaves have to be fresh and healthy to make healthy moths. Silk worms increase 10,000-fold from egg to old enough to spin a cocoon, so we would need LOTS of fresh privet branches. The moth is similar to a polyphemus, but a richer brown with some cream and lavender.http://cse-ferg41.unl.edu/pub/leps/i...l?page=cynthia If I can find enough privet plants to feed a clutch or two of eggs, I will be glad to post or email photos of each step of the process, so the entire group can enjoy it. Got privet?? (Or fresh ailanthus or castor bean?) Thanks! laurie (Mother Mastiff) |
Castor Bean plants or Privet?? Ailanthus?
Hi Minnie,
Thanks, I will take you up on that, the cocoons arrived yesterday and will start to eclose (hatch) in several weeks, then the moths lay eggs over a period of about a week. The eggs take 21-28 days to hatch, and THEN I will really NEED tender young leaves from castor, ailanthus, privet, and ligustrum. It isn't that much time when you are talking about plants. I will be happy to swap something for the leaves, I will need a RELIABLE supply of leaves for 4-5 weeks. laurie (Mother Mastiff) wrote in message ups.com... Interesting info! Thanks for sharing pics. I don't got privet but I sho get a lot of Castor Oil Bean plant volunteers come spring. Let me know if you still need them by then. Minnie On Jan 27, 10:45 pm, "laurie \(Mother Mastiff\)" wrote: I am a fiber artist and have a chance to get some viable cocoons of a wild silk moth that eats either castor bean leaves or privet leaves and apparently not much else. (I want to raise the moths, eggs, worms, and then process the silk from the cocoons, to document the process). Don't castor bean plants go dormant? And ailanthus? But aren't privets evergreen like boxwood? The woman who has been raising these moths year around near Myrtle Beach has raised them successfully on nothing but privet (with some castor leaves in summer). It is so hard to find viable cocoons of the wild silk moths, I REALLY don't want to miss this chance, but I have no privet, and no logical place to plant any. (Plus, if I bought some, I could not be sure the plants had not been sprayed, and might have residue, but most folks on this list know if or when they sprayed....) Does anyone around Apex/RTP area have BIG healthy (spray-free of course) privet bushes that could tolerate a light, even pruning for about 3 weeks? Apparently the moths would be ready to emerge from their cocoons in a week or so. They won't eat much till the 3rd and 4th weeks, but by then their appetites will be prodigious (I know because I am currently raising domestic silk worms on commercial powdered mulberry leaves). I would need to harvest an increasing quantity of small branches every few days. If the branches keep fresh in water, I could come a little less often, but the leaves have to be fresh and healthy to make healthy moths. Silk worms increase 10,000-fold from egg to old enough to spin a cocoon, so we would need LOTS of fresh privet branches. The moth is similar to a polyphemus, but a richer brown with some cream and lavender.http://cse-ferg41.unl.edu/pub/leps/i...l?page=cynthia If I can find enough privet plants to feed a clutch or two of eggs, I will be glad to post or email photos of each step of the process, so the entire group can enjoy it. Got privet?? (Or fresh ailanthus or castor bean?) Thanks! laurie (Mother Mastiff) |
Castor Bean plants or Privet?? Ailanthus?
On Feb 3, 8:40 am, "laurie \(Mother Mastiff\)"
wrote: Hi Minnie, Thanks, I will take you up on that, the cocoons arrived yesterday and will start to eclose (hatch) in several weeks, then the moths lay eggs over a period of about a week. The eggs take 21-28 days to hatch, and THEN I will really NEED tender young leaves from castor, ailanthus, privet, and ligustrum. It isn't that much time when you are talking about plants. I will be happy to swap something for the leaves, I will need a RELIABLE supply of leaves for 4-5 weeks. laurie (Mother Mastiff) wrote in message ups.com... Interesting info! Thanks for sharing pics. I don't got privet but I sho get a lot of Castor Oil Bean plant volunteers come spring. Let me know if you still need them by then. Minnie On Jan 27, 10:45 pm, "laurie \(Mother Mastiff\)" wrote: I am a fiber artist and have a chance to get some viable cocoons of a wild silk moth that eats either castor bean leaves or privet leaves and apparently not much else. (I want to raise the moths, eggs, worms, and then process the silk from the cocoons, to document the process). Don't castor bean plants go dormant? And ailanthus? But aren't privets evergreen like boxwood? The woman who has been raising these moths year around near Myrtle Beach has raised them successfully on nothing but privet (with some castor leaves in summer). It is so hard to find viable cocoons of the wild silk moths, I REALLY don't want to miss this chance, but I have no privet, and no logical place to plant any. (Plus, if I bought some, I could not be sure the plants had not been sprayed, and might have residue, but most folks on this list know if or when they sprayed....) Does anyone around Apex/RTP area have BIG healthy (spray-free of course) privet bushes that could tolerate a light, even pruning for about 3 weeks? Apparently the moths would be ready to emerge from their cocoons in a week or so. They won't eat much till the 3rd and 4th weeks, but by then their appetites will be prodigious (I know because I am currently raising domestic silk worms on commercial powdered mulberry leaves). I would need to harvest an increasing quantity of small branches every few days. If the branches keep fresh in water, I could come a little less often, but the leaves have to be fresh and healthy to make healthy moths. Silk worms increase 10,000-fold from egg to old enough to spin a cocoon, so we would need LOTS of fresh privet branches. The moth is similar to a polyphemus, but a richer brown with some cream and lavender.http://cse-ferg41.unl.edu/pub/leps/i...l?page=cynthia If I can find enough privet plants to feed a clutch or two of eggs, I will be glad to post or email photos of each step of the process, so the entire group can enjoy it. Got privet?? (Or fresh ailanthus or castor bean?) Thanks! laurie (Mother Mastiff)- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - OK. I'll let you know when the castors wake up. |
Looking for Worm Castings in the Holly Springs area
Does anyone know of a garden supply or other operation that has worm
castings for sale in the area? I've checked Logans in Raleigh and the Garden Hut in Fuquay-Varina but haven't had any luck yet. Thanks, |
Hi There
I am new to worm farming and i didnt know where to start but just wanted to give it a go. So thought i would have a search around the internet to see what info was available and couldnt really find much! However i did find a really great book to download which was incredibly informative and really easy to read. Now I am so excited as i have a better understanding as a complete novice and i highly recommend it to anyone starting out. I found it under this website: Beginners Guide to Starting a Worm Farm would appreciate any further advice from anyone. Allotment Lady Quote:
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Hi There
I am new to worm farming and i didnt know where to start but just wanted to give it a go. So thought i would have a search around the internet to see what info was available and couldnt really find much! However i did find a really great book to download which was incredibly informative and really easy to read. Now I am so excited as i have a better understanding as a complete novice and i highly recommend it to anyone starting out. I found it under this website: Beginners Guide to Starting a Worm Farm would appreciate any further advice from anyone. Allotment Lady Quote:
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Quote:
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