Rearing box Tools box-cutter or sharp scissors hole punch pen or pencil for marking

Materials 18" x 18" x 24" cardboard box (a moving box is ideal) plug-in 24 hour timer night light fixture with bulb 6-ft extension cord 25 watt round light bulb 18" plug/socket clear carton sealing tape strong thread or fishing line small plastic cup with lid 2 sheets clear overhead transparency film 12.5" x 20" sheet of black plastic (polyfilm) black enamel paint and small paint brushes sugar water (2 Tbs. sugar/cup of water) potted tomato plant or plant stalk in bottle of water optional–liner paper (e.g. paper towel, newspaper, etc.

Directions

1. Paint the night light bulb with a light coat of black enamel paint. The amount of light that gets through the coating should simulate dawn or dusk. Set the painted bulb aside to dry.
2. Use carton sealing tape to close and reinforce the box.
3. Stand the box on the 18" x 18"end and mark a door on one of the 18" x 24" sides. The door should be approximately 11" x 17". Cut three sides of the door using the box-cutter or scissors. Leave one side of the door uncut to serve as the hinge!
4. Tape the two sheets of overhead film together with as little overlap between the sheets as possible. This will be the window.
5. Mark an outline for a window opening on one of the three remaining walls of the box. Make the outline slightly smaller than the plastic window! Completely cut out the window opening.
6. Attach the window panel on the outside of the window opening with tape. Make sure the panel is secure and there are no holes for adult moths to escape!
7. Attach the black plastic across the top of the window with tape, leaving the other 3 sides untaped. This flap keeps the room light out when the insects aren't being observed, but can be lifted for viewing.
8. Plug the timer into one of the outlets of the extension cord. Remove and discard the light shield from the night light fixture, and screw in the painted black bulb (it should be dry by now). Plug the night light fixture into the other side of the extension cord outlet.
9. The timer will be attached to the top of the rearing box with the black bulb extending inside the box through a hole cut in the side, as shown. To cut the hole for the bulb, set the timer assembly on top of the box and mark the distance between the top of the box and the tip of the bulb. Cut a hole at this mark just big enough to fit the black bulb through, insert the bulb into the box, and securely tape the timer to the top of the box. Be careful not to put tape over the working parts of the timer!
10. Plug the 18" plug/light socket into the timer outlet, then cut a hole just large enough for the socket end of the plug/light socket to fit through on top of the box. Insert the socket end into the box and working from the inside of the box, screw in the 25 watt light bulb. Secure the cord of the plug/light socket with tape to the top of the box so that the bulb is suspended near the ceiling.



11. Use a hole punch to put three or four holes in the plastic cup lid. These will serve as openings for the adult moths to sip through. Make three small holes around the rim of the cup. Tie lengths of thread or fishing line through these holes, then tie the free ends together into a hanging line so that the cup can be suspended from the top of the rearing box.
12. Cut a tiny hole in the top of the rearing box, feed the hanging line through this hole from the inside of the box, and secure it with tape. Add sugar water to this feeder just before the adult moths emerge.
13. Optional: The emerging adult moths void the wastes (meconium) that were accumulated during pupation. Although these wastes do not smell, they are messy. You may want to line your rearing box with liner paper to make cleanup easier.
14. Set the timer for about 14 hours on (light) and 10 hours off (darkness).
    Note: the black night light stays on all the time, but the 25 watt bulb turns on and off. Plug in the extension cord, add your plant, and you're ready to go!

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