Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i want to catch some of these bigger moths like luna, silk, etc... but i want to know when to look for them and where and if so how to lure htem to my yard any help would be apreciated

where do you live? if you are looking to "catch" them as adult moths you will have to be out at night since that is when most of them fly. They will come to lights if there is a good population. Do you live in the suburbs? rural? city? woods nearby?

If you are looking to find them at other stages (larva, cocoon) see the post further down.

if you are interested in learning how to rear some, or want to collect or purchase eggs, cocoons, etc. post back here with your questions

lele

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In canada is where i live , in a city so should i just wait up around at night like ive caugh a poly, and a luna before so they are here i jsut want to catch them and start to rear them and tips

OK...here are the basics. They can often be found around lights (billboards, security lights). Since they fly at night you might try checking out a place at dawn when they may be settled for the day. For instance out [post office has big security lights and the lunas tend to gather there. But I live in a very rural area so it may be more difficult in an area that is well lit like a city. I know a guy in WI who collects at a billboard (do you have them in CN?)

If you catch them at the light you first need to know if it is male or female. The antennae of males are wider than females. If you have a female you may be lucky enough to get one gravid (already with fertilized eggs) but the only way you will know is to wait for her to deposit them, then wait about two weeks if they hatch. You then have to make sure you have PLENTY of their host plant available for feeding. If you do it this way I do not recommend trying to raise more than about a dozen your first time. They eat all the time, more as they grow, and will be in this stage 4-6 weeks depending on species.

Catching a male and female and mating them is an option too, but unless you have some experience I don't recommend it unless you just want to put them together in a screen cage. There is much more but I will stop here and say that collecting them wild as adults and hoping on finding one already gravid, or the chances of getting a male and female of the same species are slim unless you have an area where a lot congregate(if so, then go for it!

They do not eat as adults and live for about a week or so. You would be best off finding or ordering cocoons in the fall and winter them over in your fridge or get them in the spring before emergence. I do not mean to discourage you but I think beginning with cocoons or eggs is an easier way to go. Where in CN are you? There is a guy in PEI who sells livestock. here is his site.
giant silks, PEI