Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone have any suggestions as to the best time of night and type of area to catch cecropia moths? I'd like to try blacklighting for them but I'm not sure if it would be a waste of time. Anyone with any experience? I'm in southeast PA, near West Chester. What type of habitat would be my best bet? Anyone know if they're emerging yet in my area? What's the usual season for the adults in my area? So many questions...sorry.

I've had plenty of experience raising other butterflies and moths, but never came across a cecropia. My kids and I are hoping this will be the year for it!

Thanks!

Hi - since cecropia and other wild silk moths do not feed as adults it can be a bit difficult to attract them to food. A mercury bulb setup and white sheet may work. I am in NH and they come out around mid-late June so they are likely out in your area.

Did you know that you can order eggs online - that is if you are looking to raise the caterpillars (be forewarned they feed for a couple to three months!). You can also buy cocoons in the fall/winter/spring. Again, because they do not feed as adults they have a very short life span - male 5-7 days, female 7-10. If you are interested in eggs (in about a month) let me know.

Or are you just looking to have an adult for a few days? Sometimes you can find them at all-night flood lights.

lele
here's a pic of my first hand reared (from egg) cecropia (if it doesn't show the link is below

lele's cecropia

Hi lele...thanks for the reply. i'd be very interested in eggs. We can talk about that by email...is there a way to send email to another member through this forum? I'll post an encrypted email address if i have to, just let me know. thanks!

I'll just add the caterpillars to the host of other critters my kids and I have taken on. Several months isn't a daunting commitment for us, but thanks for the heads-up.

I'm going to post a new thread for something else bizarre that my boys and I came across this weekend...monarch eggs in central PA. That's at least 4-6 weeks early for that area. Yikes!

Hi Mike,

Sorry for delay, I am emailing you right now so check your email later (Thursday).

lele