|
Photo by Jim Kalisch
Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
|
Cecropia Moth Information Cecropia Moth Links Cecropia Experiment by Mr. Tonnesen |
 Cocoons donated to classes in
our building
by Mr. Tonnesen.
 to view
more information about this interesting experiment.   Mrs Gray brought in the cocoons to
school on May 22nd. She placed them in a modified net
laundry basket. Mrs. Gray had removed the side with a pocket and sewed
tulle in
its place. She had closed the open end with a piece cut from the
pocket side. She had sewed part of the piece onto the opening and
used velcro to close the rest of the opening. This allows us to safely
open and
close our cage.
Cecropia caterpillars create a double walled cocoon. This means that it first spins and outer shell and then spins an inner portion of the cocoon.  May 6
Our Cecropia moths started to emerge today. We had four beautiful males by the end of the day.    May7 Our first female appeared today as well as five more males. They are so beautiful. May 8 We now have 12 cecropia, 10 males and 2 females.  May 9 We had one more female emerge and 3 more males emerge today. Mrs. Gray will release most of the males this week-end. We are going to keep the females until they have laid their eggs and maybe we will have baby caterpillars in a week or two.  |
|
Cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia)
or Robin Moth
Cecropia's range is the eastern half of the US. From mid-Texas to Florida to Maine to Minnesota. Cecropia moths are our largest lepidoptera with wingspans of of 4 5/16” - 6" or more. Depending on the size of the moth, female Cecropia moths lay approximately 250 - 350 eggs. Cecropia eggs are generally laid out in short rows, often in rows of four. The eggs hatch in about 14-20 days. 
The caterpillars eat box elder , sugar
maple , cherry, plum , apple, alder, birch, dogwood , willow,
lilac, elm, glossy buckthorn, oval-leafed privet, black walnut. When
Cecropia caterpillars first hatch they are black. Once they shed to 2nd
instar they turn orange. Then in 3rd instar, the larva are either
orange with red tuberacles, or green with red tuberacles.
In the 4th and 5th instar they are green
with yellow, red, and blue tuberacles. Young caterpillars feed in
groups on leaves and older caterpillars tend to eat alone.
Cecropia
caterpillars usually attach their cocoons along a twig of a plant
they're feeding on. Cecropias have only 1 brood a year.The moths
usually emerge from their cocoons in the late morning. It’s
unusual to see one hatch out after 2 pm.
The body of the adult is red with
a white collar and white bands on the abdomen. The wings are dark
brown. The
forewings are red at the base. Crescent spots and the area by the body
are red on all wings. The males are easily identified by
their wide, feathery antennae. The female has a heavier body and has
thinner
antennae. They will almost always mate the first night.
|
|
Cecropia Moth - Life Cycle |
BACK TO MRS. GRAY'S CLASSROOM
PAGE
Send comments and suggestions to: roberta.gray@neomin.org
|
|
