Silkmoths and more: Aurivillius triramis

It's strange that this species isn't more popular. After all, they are fairly common in Western Africa and not difficult to keep in captivity. Best food plants are by far Salix species. I used both Salix cinerea and Salix caprea for this brood. Ricinus will work too. Sometimes you come across references of this species feeding on Fabaceae, especially Albizia. I haven't tried Albizia, but I did try a group on Robinia pseudoacacia. The freshly hatched caterpillars started eating immediately and ... died within two days. So, be careful with plants out of the Legume family, they may not be such good food plants. If you can, use Salix. This species is gregarious and even in the late instars they are very tolerant to company. Keep the first four instars in well ventilated, plastic containers (start with a small container and use a larger one after each molting). You will notice that the caterpillars are fairly small. Even when fully grown they don't get larger then six centimeter (exceptionally seven). The final instar is best housed in netted cages. The larvae grow fast when kept warm and dry. Within four to five weeks they will start walking around on the bottom of the cage. When you see this, move them to small, individual containers lined with toilet paper. Four to six days later they will have pupated. The pupal stage is short, only four to six weeks (depending on the temperature).