Silkmoths and more: Pseudimbrasia deyrollei

The Giant Emperor (Pseudimbrasia deyrollei) is one of Africa's largest Saturniids and a pleasure to rear. They grow fast. In six to seven weeks they easily become ten centimeter long and a thumb thick. The number of silvery white tubercles on the back is fairly variable, even within the same brood. Some larvae have them only on a few segments of the body, while others have these white tubercles on (almost) all segments. This is a very easy to rear creature. Keep the first three instars in well ventilated plastic containers and move them to netted cages when they've reached the fourth instar. At this point they are still fairly small, but from the fourth instar onward they will rapidly gain in size. Finding proper food plants isn't very hard. These caterpillars accept a wide range of species. Very good choices are (among others) Salix, Quercus, Fagus, Crataegus and Malus. Keep them warm. A living room temperature is a minimum. Avoid moist conditions and do not give them wet leaves, but make sure that the ambient air humidity is between medium and high.