Silkmoths and more: Pseudobunaea alinda

They really are taking their sweet time, but the final result is quite spectacular. Alinda is one of the largest species out of the African Pseudobunaea genus. That shows, the caterpillars are massive. After two months of slow growth, they've reached the impressive size of ten centimeter long and a thumb thick. I'm not entirely sure that this slow growth is natural. It could have something to do with the fact that it's winter now and all outdoor food plants are of somewhat lesser quality. Or maybe it's because I reared them on Ligustrum. This alternative food plant was well accepted and mortality was zero, but still it may have resulted in a somewhat slower growth. That happens sometimes when you use plants that are not growing in their natural habitat. I've seen reports of this species feeding on Prunus laurocerasus as well. I didn't try this myself, so can't tell whether this is a better plant or not. Better is quite relative of course. How much better then zero mortality can you go? Once they've settled, the rearing is not too difficult. Keep them warm (a living room temperature really is the absolut minimum), dry and in well ventilated plastic containers. They do not require anything else, except of course fresh food and clean containers, but that goes without saying.