Cecropia Silkmoth
Family Saturniidae, Subfamily:  Saturniinae
Hyalophora cecropia
 Adults

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Immatures     Cocoon and Pupa


Female Drying wings after Emerging
Color is not a factor in determining sex
Female has smaller antennae
and a much larger
abdomen
drying wings

Female just after emerging
head

Female Upper Forewing Pattern
wing pattern

Female Wing Spot
wing spot


Female #2 after Emerging
fe

Female #2 after Emerging
underwings


Female #2 after Emerging
underside


Male

upper side


Male
male ventral


Male
male


Male under forewing markings
under forewing


Male Antennae
antennae


Antennae, Eyes and Legs
antennae


Photo Details - ŠNicky Davis
In 2013 I received ova from Kevin Collison of Osceola, Polk County, Wisconsin (elevation 825 feet). He reared some cecropia in 2012 and when the females emerged in 2013 he mated the females with wild caught males.

Females o
viposited 26 June 2013

First Instars - Began Emerging 7 July 2013 and continued to 9 July 2013.   100 percent hatch rate.
First instars were 5 mm long..


Second Instars began molting  7:14 P.M. on 11 July 2013 .
They were 10 mm long right after molting.

Molted to Third Instar 16 July 2013

Molted to Fourth Instar 22 July 2013

#1 Molted to Fifth Instar 27 July 2013

#1 purged excess liquid on 6 August 2013 and began spinning cocoon.
Cocoons were placed in refrigerator crisper for the winter rolled in paper towel in a plastic box with ventilation holes and with a small container of water to help keep hydrated.

#1 adult female emerged 42 days after removing from hibernation.  The pupa was misted once a day and kept in light for about 14 hours per day.

#2 Female emerged  34 days  after removing from hibernation.  Also misted daily and in light for ~ 14 hours daily

This adult male  emerged  33 days after removing from hibernation.  Misted once daily and kept in light for about 14 hours per day.  

They took 31 to 42  days to emerge after removing from hibernation.  Room temperature about 78 F.

Host Plant

Black Chokecherry - Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa


Range
 

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