Cecropia and Polyphemus Moths/Caterpillars

[Linda Bowers]

I currently have a couple hundred polyphemus and cecropia moth caterpillars growing at my house. They are eating well and getting bigger. I have never raised them before so I need some help to be successful. Has anyone raised these moths before? Any advice would be appreciated -- books and web sites would be great if you know of any. I'm not sure what I need to do with these babies after they cocoon to store them successfully through the winter until they hatch in the spring.

 

[Wade]

I answered you PM before seeing this post, so I'll copy what I wrote there here as well:

Hi Linda-

It's been awhile since I've reared moths, but I rember how much work it can be! Those fat catepillars can eat you out of house and home!

Polyphemus usually have two generations per year, so depending on when yours hatched, they may emerge, mate and lay eggs again before the end of the summer! The next generation of cocoons should be overwintered. Keep them cool, or they may hatch earlier than you want them to. You want to make sure there are plenty of oak leaves available before you start rearing catepillars again.

Cecropia I *THINK* only have one generation per year, so when these pupate, you're safe until next spring. Again, though, keep them cool. I know some people do this in the fridge (I haven't tried it myself). If you do it in the fridge, it's probably advisable to put them in some sort of container to prevent dessication.

IME, they don't always emerge at the same time, so you may have a hard time breeding them, since the adults are so short lived. One really cool way to breed them is to put an unmated female in a wire cage outside overnight and her phermones will attract males from miles around! They can usually mate through the bars, and she will begin laying eggs almost immediately. When males emerge, it's probably best to just release them unless you have a ready female on hand. That is, if they are from local stock. If they came from somwhere else, don't release them! They make very nice pinned specimens.

Good luck, and have fun!

Wade

 

[Jesse607]

Wade you are correct, cecropias only have one generation per year throughout their range and cacoons must experience a period of cold temperatures in order to break their diapause(somewhat like hibernation).