Silkmoths and more: Trabala pallida

Always fun to rear a Trabala. The members of this Asian (and African) genus have all colorful caterpillars. Most of the species are easy to breed and even suitable for newcomers. They are very forgiving for mistakes, just don't exaggerate. You will still have to clean cages and give fresh food. Even though these larvae like to drink from water drops, it's my advice to keep everything dry. Avoid condensation and wet leaves, it lowers the risk of diseases significantly. As is the case for many Lasiocampidae, when they get sick and die, it's usually in the later instars, after you've already spend a significant amount of time and work. So that's something you would like to avoid. This is not a fast grower. Depending on your breeding conditions, it can easily take up to eight weeks before they start to pupate. The pupal stage is fairly short (two to three weeks). They are best reared in well ventilated plastic containers. Do not overcrowd in the last two caterpillar stages. Wild hosts are among others Terminalia, Melastoma, Lagerstroemia, Punica, Psidium and Sclerocarya. In captivity they willingly accept Quercus and Carpinus.