how long does a goliathus goliatus larvae take to molt?

M

Mykei

L2
my goliathus goliatus larvae stopped eating its food on Saturday and I read that it could be due to molting. I did notice that it was a darker color when I saw it on the bottom of the container, as well as it was supposedly close to being an l3. How long does this process last?

 
It's not going to very long, Perhaps a few days. I know more about Lepidoptera, and caterpillars will stop eating for maybe 2 days,

molt, then begin eating again after they harden up. Nature will have designed them to have this process take as little time as possible.

In L3, the grub should grow quickly, and continue to do so until it stops again, at which point you'll need to give it the pupation medium,

something which, if you don't have now, you'll want to deal with pretty quickly.

 
kevink said:
It's not going to very long, Perhaps a few days. I know more about Lepidoptera, and caterpillars will stop eating for maybe 2 days,

molt, then begin eating again after they harden up. Nature will have designed them to have this process take as little time as possible.

In L3, the grub should grow quickly, and continue to do so until it stops again, at which point you'll need to give it the pupation medium,

something which, if you don't have now, you'll want to deal with pretty quickly.
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yeah I got some clay that was recommended in the care sheet but I'm sure if I have enough

 
I bought 3 pounds, a pound of clay is not a lot. I used a plastic cylinder, like they keep pepperoni sticks in at the qwiky mart, it's tall, and

about 6 inches in diameter. My grub dug down to the bottom, 8 inches, and might have went further if the container was deeper, do they

need that kind of depth? I don't know, but I would suppose it should have a good six inches or so.

 
Lucky you.

I was about to say you should prepare the pupation medium.

I never noticed my goliatus stop eating at all, let alone a week.

Do be aware that early pupation is a fact, due to conditions that aren't completely

clear. That comes as a surprise and a disappointment.

 
kevink said:
Lucky you.

I was about to say you should prepare the pupation medium.

I never noticed my goliatus stop eating at all, let alone a week.

Do be aware that early pupation is a fact, due to conditions that aren't completely

clear. That comes as a surprise and a disappointment.
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well actually I think it stopped eating again but I'll wait until tomorrow to confirm or deny that.

 
If the grub remains topside and stays, wandering around, sometimes on it's back pushing the lid, it's looking for a place to 

pupate.

I had a false hope when my grub began to stay topside, and after an email from the breeder, who thought my container was too small,

I put it in a larger container, it dug in, and I thought all was right again, until it didn't find what it wanted, and back up it came.

 
if it is not eating, and scratching the underside of the lid, probably on it's back- it needs pupation substrate, it's exactly what happened to me,

I was in denial for a while, but caved in to the reality that the grub was ready to pupate, even at 37 g. Now I have a pupation cell.

 
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