Madagascan Moon Moth / Argema mittrei 5th instar larvae.

Footage of a final instar mittrei larvae chomping away on Eucalyptus gunni in the summer of 2010, and some general rearing advice.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Madagascan
• Comet
• Moth
• video

[iannsurman]

Thanks for the kind comments guys; it's been a real privelige to rear these larvae this year!

[Fernito69]

Nice! I'm looking forward to rear these moths soon. Do you know if they eat leaves of any species of the Eucalyptus genus?

[ias115]

Very good, Ian.

More of these please. I think people will get a lot of benefit out of them.

[clipperd99]

Nice video with some very useful information. Great to see your success with this wonderful species.

Keep up the good work Ian!

[Lepilad]

Another interesting point to note is that the common name of this species, the 'Madagascan Comet Moth' is technically incorrect, with the correct adjective being 'Malagasy'. However through time the name has become standard.

I believe the usual alternative name given to insects that originally use the adjective 'Madagascan' has become 'Madagascar'. Thus, one could also call this species the 'Madagascar Comet Moth', as in the 'Madagascar Hissing Cockroach'.

Now there's some pointless trivia!

[Lepilad]

Rearing 'mittrei' must be fantastic - I previously assumed that I couldn't rear it due to a lack of suitable foodplant, however I recently discovered that the larvae should also take Rhus Typhina (Staghorn Sumach), which I have plenty of.

Sadly this species is suffering in the wild due to habitat loss, although breeders, like Ian, help by buying stock that originates in butterfly farms in Madagascar. These farms help sustain numbers and employ local people.

Good luck with future breeding!