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Protection Larvae: Must be housed alone or with same size of own kind; even then may feed on each other. Use aquarium or aquarium jar. Provide sediment scraped from bottom of pond plus algae and pond weeds. These contain minute plant and animal life which serve as food and also as protection larvae for larvae as they work through it. Place 2-3 flat rocks on sediment; one rock must extend above surface of water. Fill container with about 4 inches pond water; allow sediment to settle; when water has cleared, transfer larvae into it.
Most hairstreaks live in open habitats, such as meadows, but some species live only in forests and other wooded places. The larvae are typically spindle-shaped, with the small head and legs partially hidden. Most hairstreak larvae feed on leaves, and some bore into fruits or buds. Others are carnivorous, feeding on small insects. A few larvae have special glands near the end of the abdomen for secreting honeydew, a sweet fluid much sought after by some ants. These larvae are often captured and raised by ants.
Food—In the wild, larvae feed on small aquatic animals such as water fleas, fairy shrimp, daphnia, mosquito wigglers, and other salamander larvae; many of these can be bought at tropical fish shops. When hind legs develop, add bits of scraped raw liver to natural food; remove all particles of liver soon after larvae feed, as even slight water pollution kills very suddenly. Keep larvae supplied with pond weeds, since compact roots and stems contain much small animal life. |
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