Post Hibernation Strategies > Post-Diapause Limenitis Third Instar Caterpillars
This photo gallery shows you through one successful method of accomplishing this. For more general information on rearing Limenitis species, click here.
-
Bring Container with Limenitis Hibernacula Indoors
Once local willows have sent out new growth, you are now ready to bring your overwintering hibernacula indoors. These hibernacula were overwintered in a container full of holes hanging from a bucket with screen around it hanging from a tree in a mountain bog to provide airflow and humidity during the winter.
-
Hibernacula Brought in from Refrigerator
These hibernacula were wintered in the refrigerator. This is not normally advisable unless you want to mist spray hibernacula every 48-72 hours in a container that has an open screen lid where the humidity can dry to avoid mold to the hibernacula and diapausing third instar larvae. However, keeping the hibernacula bone dry for longer than approximately 4 days suggests that they might desiccate.
-
Willow Cuttings
Admiral and viceroy caterpillars accept many varieties of willows, cottonwoods, and aspens. Willows are one of the first trees to leaf out or send out new growth in February, March, or April depending upon latitude and altitude of where you live.
-
Willow Bouquet in Bottled Water
Once these trees leaf out, take cuttings of host and place in bottled water to be placed in a semi-closed terrarium.
-
Attach Hibernaculum to a Pin
As shown in this figure, you can attach a hibernaculum to a pin.
-
Attach Pinned Hibernaculum to Willow Cuttings
As you attach your pinned hibernaculum to willow cuttings, then place the bouquet of willows into a semi-closed terrarium.
-
-
Semi-Closed Terrarium
When your bouquet of willow cuttings is properly set up with hibernacula attached. Place your bouquet of willow cuttings into a bucket or terrarium with a glass lid to allow for a humid environment.
-
Semi-Closed Terrarium Exposed to 24 Hours of Light
Expose environment to 24 hours of light.
-
Limenitis Larva Crawls Out of Hibernaculum
Once Limenitis larvae are exposed to 24 hours of light in a humid environment, they should take roughly 96 hours to crawl out of their hibernaculum and search for food. If they find willow, cottonwood, or aspen new growth, they will commence feeding.
-
Third Instar Lorquin's Admiral Rests
Third instar Limenitis lorquini burrisoni caterpillar rests outside its hibernaculum. Post-diapause larvae will feed outside their hibernaculum and then return. However, as the third instar caterpillar grows, it soon abandons it. You can also remove the hibernaculum to "ween the baby" when it is feeding away from it. It will simply adjust by resting on the twig; and continue feeding to pupation.
-
Lorquin's Admiral Third Instar Caterpillar
Limenitis lorquini burrisoni third instar caterpillar resting with hibernaculum removed.
-
-
-
-
-
-
