User:Kugamazog/sandbox
| Saturniids | |
|---|---|
| |
| Promethea silkmoth, Callosamia promethea | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | Saturniidae
|
| Subfamilies | |
|
Arsenurinae | |
Saturniidae are a family of large moths in the Lepidoptera. These moths are raised in captivity for hobby and business. They can be raised for their silk or for their beauty.
Silk moths as a Business[edit]
Saturniids as a hobby[edit]
Containment[edit]
There are several ways to contain Saturniids will the caterpillars eat. One way is to have a large mesh container. This works especially well for later instars but there are may be some problems with caterpillars fitting through the holes and wandering off. For recently hatched or early instar caterpillars, it is advised to raise them in a sealed container. This helps keep the humidity at a constant level and prevents the caterpillars from wandering away from the food source. As they grow, it is best to separate them to only a few caterpillars per container. This reduces the amount of frass buildup and helps dampen any disease that may affect the caterpillars.