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Elephant hawk moth larve (1 Viewer)

Hi

We found a lovely large elephant hawk moth larve in our garden our boy instantly wanted to keep it so we intended to keep and release as a moth so we got a medium sized clear box peiced the lid with lots of small holes filled it with soil put sticks in and various other food bits
Apple
Fushia plant
Holly all of which we read these eat.
He's been fine for 4/5 days, we get him out now and again outside but when we went to see him today he had shrank and lost some of his colouring is he dieing? Is there anything we can do? Would releasing him give him a chance?
Any advice welcome
Thanks
 
It might be the first stages of turning into a pupa. However, most larvae do not like being disturbed at this stage, so I would suggest you stop getting him out and leave it to do its stuff. Patience is essential when rearing larvae. After a few weeks you might take a gentle look to see if it has turned into a pupa. If it has, don't handle the pupa and place it in a frost-free place outside where it can overwinter and emerge when it is time, providing it with some sticks to climb up once it emerges. If you keep it indoors it will emerge early and won't be able to find a mate. If it has shrivelled and feels light then I'm afraid it will have died.
 
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