Cecropia and Stuart
Moth Man

Moth Man.

For the past 14 years I have been raising Cecropia moths. It started with a favor for Phil Pellitteri (UW - Extension Entomologist) who asked me to 'baby sit' a larvae while he went out of town. Since then I have been fascinated with these elegant and beautiful creatures, how easy and fun it is to raise them, and how important it is to keep them from extinction. <read more >

Note - to whom I have given Cecropia:

Don't Panic!

Spring 2012 has been very warm in Wisconsin so you've probably already moved these cocoons from whereever you had them over-wintering (hopefully exposed to the cold weather) somewhere where they are exposed to the outside temperatures. Here is a reminder of what you should expect now.

Even thought it's been a warm spring (in Wisconsin) the moths shouldn't emerge until sometime in June. When they do come out they will stay put for a day or so - not try to fly away - until they're wings are dry. If it's a female, she will be happy to stay close but a male will try desperately to get out as soon as he gets a whif of the pheromone on the wind.

The female will attract a male to her and once mated (4-5 hour process) the female will fly away (if you let her). She will begin to lay her eggs within minutes of mating. The eggs will hatch within a week. (she layes them in a very tough glue substance so keep this in mind when you decide where to keep her - I use a grocery bag).

Don't worry about what species of tree to place the eggs because the new hatchlings don't lock in on a particular species until they come out and eat a bit (the mother decides what they will eat by where she chooses to lay the eggs). She always seems to prefer some form of apple tree (even though my evidence says they grow faster on walnut.) I have yet to find a tree species they won't eat once they get started.

I hope this get's you going and I wish you all the luck in raising a new generation of these incredible creatures.

- Stuart


FYI: Gypsy Moth Spray Notice for Dane County, Wisconsin 2012:

(this is important because some methods for suppression of Gypsy Moth also affect Cecropia Moth and timing is critical in these applications. )

    "In 2012, there will be no Cooperative Aerial Gypsy Moth Suppression Program treatment. Gypsy moth surveys in 2011 indicated that the over winter population was lower than levels seen over the last few years. Residents are reminded to report nuisance populations to their local municipality. "

    Some web sites for Gypsy Moth information:

  • 2012 Season: This spring we had an incredibly warm March in Madison Wisconsin, followed by a normal April (that felt cold in comparison). Perhaps this will cause things to happen sooner.

  • 2012 highlights:

    • First Cecropia (female) emerged May 28.
    • First Promethia (female) emerged May 28.

    2011 Season: I can tell every time the Wisconsin Gardner episode aires because I get an influx of emails requesting moths. This is great and I am trying hard to fill all 'orders'.

  • 2011 highlights:

    • Cool spring but still seems moths began emerging early (both Cecropia and Promethia moths.)
    • First Cecropias (two males) emerged June 2d and third. Released both because I didn't yet have a female.
    • First Promethia emerged on June 5th. Male arrived from the wild at dinner time on June 7th.
    • Two Cecropia females emerged during cold and rainy period after I'd already released the early males. No males were drawn in and the female's eventually died.
    • My last two Cecropia to emerge were male and female. On June 30th another male was drawn in from the wild and one of the males mated with female. I had bagged all three so that this time she wouldn't escape before laying me some eggs. She laid over a hundred and I let all three moths go.

    2010 Season: Getting some good feedback, and questions, from this web site. THANKS!

  • 2010 highlights:

    • Very warm spring with relatively early emergence of Cecropia and Prometheus moths.
    • My only female Cecropia 'flew the coop' before I could get any eggs. Will this be the first year I don't raise Cecropia?
    • Saved by a friend, I have Cecropia AND Promethea eggs once again.
    • Promethia eggs laid on 16 June AND a female prometheus moth who emerged on 1 July attracted 3 male moths from the wild. Evidence that they don't all come out at the same time(?).


    2009 Season: hard to believe I've been doing this for 10 years....

  • 2009 highlights:

    • Cool spring with relatively late emergence of Cecropia and Prometheus moths.
    • Segment on WPT's Wisconsin Gardner with Shelley Ryan to be aired 23 July 2009 at 7:30 PM on Wisconsin Public Television. "... strikingly beautiful and cause no harm to the garden." (Shelly's referring to the moth larvae - not me.)
    • First year I've had a Prometheus moth mate and lay eggs (complete full life cycle).
    • Oh, the humanity!!! (moth-anity?). Larvae population decimated by (???)

  • Click here to view 'early years' web site (1999 through 2002)


Resources:

Contact me at email link at bottom of page if you have questions, need eggs, or would just like to chat about raising moths.

<Back to Intrests page>