Magnificent species native to the Philippines . It is one of the largest nocturnal butterflies in the world, females can reach more than 20cm in wingspan! This species resembles the Attacus atlas which is more widespread in farms.
Species not recommended for beginners.
The main difficulties:
➡️The hatching rate of eggs is uncertain ➡️ Young caterpillars are fragile ➡️ Emerging from the chrysalis is tricky. Butterflies are not all born at the same time, so it is not easy to have a couple. ➡️ It seems that individuals are getting smaller and smaller over generations. This therefore requires genetic mixing.%20(1).png)
The eggs are white and measure 2 to 3 mm long. They are laid individually on the walls of the aviary or on the leaves of plants and stuck with a red-brown organic glue. Care must be taken not to damage them when harvesting: they must be moistened to be able to detach them . They become darker at the end of incubation.
Breeding container :
The eggs can be kept in closed plastic boxes with sufficient ventilation (very fine mesh) to prevent the appearance of mold. The aim is to maintain a very humid atmosphere while preventing the caterpillars from escaping at birth.
Temperature : Around 25°C
Humidity : 70 to 80% . To obtain good humidity and if the box is not too airy, you can place leaves from the food plant and renew them as soon as they deteriorate.
Incubation period : 8 to 15 days
When hatched the caterpillars are whitish with a black head and black lines between the segments. They also have small white spines on their backs.
At the L2 stage , they become larger and the spines on their backs become longer and less pointed. The caterpillar is covered with a waxy powder.
At the L3 stage , the caterpillar is increasingly waxy and we observe the appearance of orange spiracles on the sides.
At the L4 stage , some spines on their head are orange, the others are white. They are black on the sides.
At the L5 stage the caterpillar becomes a little more greenish. Most of the spines are orange, almost bluish at their ends. They grow quickly and eat a lot.
At the L6 stage the caterpillar is greenish and bluish in color.
Breeding container :
The breeding of the first stages (L1/L2) can be done in a fairly small box (micro-perforated box for example). Of course this will depend on the number of caterpillars. The bottom of the box can be covered with paper towels to facilitate cleaning.
From stage L3 onwards, you can start using larger boxes (Braplast boxes for example - to be adapted with a well-ventilated lid). They need a well-ventilated space.
In the later stages, Exoterra type terrariums or breeding aviaries will be used.
Food: The main food plants are lilac ( Syringa vulgaris ), privet ( Ligustrum) and tree of heaven ( Ailanthus altissima) . Avoid changing plants during breeding.
It is essential that the food is fresh. To keep it longer, it is advisable to place the stems in a small container of water. Be careful, the caterpillars must not be able to enter it, otherwise there is a high risk of drowning.
Temperature : Around 22 - 25°C
Humidity : Young Attacus lorquini caterpillars need high humidity . The leaves of the food plant may be enough to obtain good humidity. The ventilation of the box should therefore not be too important. Caterpillars at the more advanced stage need high humidity but the environment must be ventilated.
Development time : 3 to 5 weeks
➡️ It is important not to let the box become saturated with humidity or let the food plant become wet.
➡️ The box must be cleaned regularly and the paper towel changed to maintain a clean environment.
The caterpillar of Attacus lorquini therefore transforms into a chrysalis inside a cocoon. The cocoons are brown and made with silk threads. The development of this cocoon can be done either in the branches of the food plant, on the walls of the terrarium / aviary or directly on the ground. The silk is very strong and the weave is very fine. In the presence of humidity, the cocoons will turn brown.
Breeding container :
The cocoons will be placed directly in the aviary. They will be hung from branches or hung high up. The aim is to leave them room at birth so that the butterflies can properly spread their wings.
Temperature: Around 22 to 25°C
Humidity: The chrysalises and the aviary must be kept humid; from time to time, you can spray a little water on the cocoons. The environment must be ventilated.
Chrysalis incubation period: 3 weeks to 1 month.
The adults, for their part, will therefore be directly in the aviary from birth. They fly little but need a surface to hang on in order to land.
It is not essential to place the food plant in the aviary. If this is not the case, the eggs will be laid and stuck directly on the aviary.
Breeding container :
The aviary will be adapted according to the number of individuals. Example: for a couple, our 60x60x90 aviary is a minimum. Be careful if the aviary is too big, the couple may not meet...
Temperature: Around 22 to 25°C
Humidity: 70 to 80% Humidity must be high otherwise the butterfly will not be able to properly spread its wings when it is born.
Food: Adults do not feed , they use the energy reserves accumulated during the larval stage.
Reproduction: Mating lasts several hours or even a day, and often begins at night or early evening. Reproduction is not easy, first of all couples are not necessarily born at the same time. And often mating does not happen spontaneously, so it is necessary to proceed with "manual reproduction" by holding the two butterflies with their wings closed, their bodies slightly inclined in a V shape, then by delicately rubbing the ends of the ventral faces. As soon as the male and female have "their ends attached" the couple can be delicately placed. The female can lay about 100 eggs.
Sexing: The male is smaller, its antennae are downy and it has smaller, transparent triangular patterns than the female.
The female is much larger with a large abdomen and less downy antennae. The transparent patterns are pear-shaped and are larger.
Adult lifespan: Male Attacus lorquini live about 4 to 5 days as they spend all their energy searching for a mate. Females can live 2 to 3 weeks.
