Mr Honey Pie reports that it's still raining in Sydney and surrounds.
The weather on the south coast is not as wet as Sydney. The mornings have been a bit iffy and then the afternoon clears to beautiful blue skies.
Back home tomorrow to tie up loose ends for the silkies, not much life can be left in the moths now.
Showing posts with label Mr Honey Pie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mr Honey Pie. Show all posts
Monday, 23 January 2012
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Day Seventy Four
Today is the first day that I haven't been at home and therefore not seen the 'silkies', since day one.
Mr Honey Pie reports that their numbers are dwindling quickly.
I've been enjoying the sunshine while Sydney and surrounds continue to be inundated.
Mr Honey Pie reports that their numbers are dwindling quickly.
I've been enjoying the sunshine while Sydney and surrounds continue to be inundated.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Day Seventy Three
I have left the the silkworm moths in the care of Mr Honey Pie while I take a short vacation.
This morning, no moths emerged and things seem to be a lot quieter than they have been for some weeks now.
I had the moths in their tank on the undercover verandah, in an attempt to keep the moth-wing dust down inside the house.
Later in the day I spoke to Mr Honey Pie by mobile phone and he told me that a stray moth got eaten up by a tree creeper that swooped down onto the verandah.
Perhaps Mr Honey Pie might have to draw the canvas awnings to keep predators away.
This morning, no moths emerged and things seem to be a lot quieter than they have been for some weeks now.
I had the moths in their tank on the undercover verandah, in an attempt to keep the moth-wing dust down inside the house.
Later in the day I spoke to Mr Honey Pie by mobile phone and he told me that a stray moth got eaten up by a tree creeper that swooped down onto the verandah.
Perhaps Mr Honey Pie might have to draw the canvas awnings to keep predators away.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Day Forty Eight
The silkworms continue to spin cocoons.
Only six or seven remain and are yet to spin.
Mulberry leaf feeding is no longer a first priority.
Mr Honey Pie has had four days off work over the Christmas holiday break and therefore not able to top up our supply daily from the usual source.
Thank goodness we are not desperate for leaves! Today, the remaining silkworms have barely made an impact on two large Mulberry leaves fed to them this morning. It will be a relief to not to have to worry about where their next supply of leaves is coming from.
Once all the cocoons have been spun I'd like to count the number of cocoons.
Of course I'll be quite short of the three thousand cocoons needed to make half a kilogram of silk!
The next challenge will be housing hundreds of moths and providing them with a place to lay their eggs. Each female moth will deposit around 400 eggs. They will only be viable if fertilized.
The silkworms at maturity, are around ten thousand times heavier than when they hatched.
Only six or seven remain and are yet to spin.
Mulberry leaf feeding is no longer a first priority.
Mr Honey Pie has had four days off work over the Christmas holiday break and therefore not able to top up our supply daily from the usual source.
Thank goodness we are not desperate for leaves! Today, the remaining silkworms have barely made an impact on two large Mulberry leaves fed to them this morning. It will be a relief to not to have to worry about where their next supply of leaves is coming from.
Once all the cocoons have been spun I'd like to count the number of cocoons.
Of course I'll be quite short of the three thousand cocoons needed to make half a kilogram of silk!
The next challenge will be housing hundreds of moths and providing them with a place to lay their eggs. Each female moth will deposit around 400 eggs. They will only be viable if fertilized.
The silkworms at maturity, are around ten thousand times heavier than when they hatched.
Monday, 19 December 2011
Day Forty
The colours of the cocoons are many and varied.
The one above is almost white.
More and more of the silkworms are spinning their cocoons.
It won't be long now before they've all done so.
Some of the smaller silkworms have been separated from the adult silkworms because I don't think that they're capable of competing for the food and were at risk of suffocating.
All continue to thrive.
It's almost a full time job keeping up the feeding, the transferring and the cleaning.
Once more I've got Mr Honey Pie to thank for keeping up the supply of mulberry leaves!
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Day Thirty Four
I've been stricken by a stomach bug.
Mr Honey Pie has been the main carer of the silkworms today.
Thanks so much Honey...where would we be without you!
Thanks too for the bags and bags of leaves you have picked for the silkies!
Due to my illness - this is it for today.
Hopefully everything will be back on track tomorrow.
Mr Honey Pie has been the main carer of the silkworms today.
Thanks so much Honey...where would we be without you!
Thanks too for the bags and bags of leaves you have picked for the silkies!
Due to my illness - this is it for today.
Hopefully everything will be back on track tomorrow.
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