Since our last shipment of Langia zenzeroides formosana eggs died prior to arriving, we tried again and this time the eggs arrived safely.

Well, they're finally here - the shiny jellybean-like eggs of Langia zenzeroides formosana, arrived nice and safely. ​Last time we had eggs arrive, the larva had all hatched and died (Langia zenzeroides formosana Eggs Hatch in Shipment), but this time not a single one had hatched.

All but one of the eggs are a bright green mottled with yellow, while a single egg is a purplish green. We aren't quite sure when these are going to hatch or what part of their development they are in exactly. The order of visual changes on the eggs, assuming fertile, should be first bright green, followed by purple, then green again before becoming translucent and revealing the developed larvae. We know for sure the purple egg is fertile and has been developing, but we aren't sure about the green ones. It would only make sense that they have passed the purple stage and are thus ahead of the purple one, but we can't make out any larvae inside! In fact, the green eggs actually resemble infertile eggs quite a bit, but it would be strange if this were the case as there is a purple one that is clearly fertile. We'll just have to be patient and see what happens.

​Authors
Alan Liang

Unfortunately, our Langia zenzeroides formosana eggs from Taiwan hatched and died in shipment.

Langia zenzeroides formosana, known as the saw-winged moth in Chinese, is one of the largest Sphingidae and the sole member of the Langiinae family or Langiini tribe depending on the taxonomic grouping. We were very excited about rearing such an large and unique species, but alas the eggs did not arrive in time and thus hatched and died during shipment. A total of 13 poor larvae lay dead when we opened the package, each shriveled and squished in the little tube the eggs were in. A few actually looked like they had only been dead for a few days based on the still green coloration of their body. We would have reared them on all the abundant Prunus or Malus around here, but sadly that won't be the case anymore. Maybe someday we'll have another chance at rearing this incredible moth.

​Authors
Alan Liang