January Sphinx in Ct

[Bill Oehlke]

I've had success getting female Sphingidae to drink warm sugar water (10% solution with a drip of honey) out of an open bottle cap.  I use a straight pin to uncoil the proboscis into the solution.  Letting the moths' front feet sit in the solution may help.
I actually hold the moth at the thorax between thumb and index finger of one hand while uncoiling the proboscis with the other.
Sometimes when I put the pin back, the moths will recoil the feeding tube, but then frequently return it to the solution on their own.
Once the moth has started feeding, pulsating proboscis, I have released my grip on the moth.
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