The cecropia is located from Mid-Texas to the east of this line. It is abundant
in the eastern half of the United States but is rarely found farther than Kansas,
Texas, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota with a few localized areas in Washington
and Utah.
Distribution map for Hyalophora Cecropia
Eggs:
Eggs are tannish-brown colored. Approximately 250-500 eggs
can be laid by a single female. The eggs often have molted colorations from
the glue the female uses to stick the eggs to leaves. Egg incubation time for
the species Hyalophora cecropia is 10 to 14 days.
Preferred food plants of this species include:
Lombardy Poplar*
Lilac*
Privet
Cherry
Stars indicate the food plants that I've used with much
success. This list is by NO means exhaustive. If you don't see names for trees
or shrubs in your area on this list, please check the more exhaustive list of
foodplants listed here.
Caterpillars:
The cecropia is an amazing moth. As a caterpillar its tranformation
is HUGE. When the eggs first hatch, tiny black caterpillars emerge. They are
jet black with tiny, bristle-like structures. Even though these tubercles (the
structures) resemble the spines of the IO moth, they are completely harmless.
Upon the shedding of the first skin, the caterpillar goes from black to yellow.
Third instar, the caterpillar turns from yellew to green with orange, red, and
blue tubercles lining the body. The spiracles (Breathing holes that line the
side of the abdomen) are also visible. Fourth instar, no change occurs except
for the huge size. Fifth instar the caterpillar is mammoth in size compared
to what it once was. 7-9 days is usually spent in each instar with the final
instar lasting about two weeks. When it's time to make the cocoon, the caterpillar
will empty the digestive track via a runny stool. After completing that, it
begins to search for a suitable place to make it's cocoon.
Cocoons:
The cocoons of this species is double walled. This means that
it first spins and outter shell and then spins an inner portion of the cocoon.
Refer to the picture below that illustrates this point.
Cecropia cocoon (double walled)
The cocoon of the cecropia moth is the largest among the cocoons
of the North American species of Saturniidae. Before making the cocoon, the
larvae will rid itself of the digestive track via a runny stool. Usually green
in color, this signals that the caterpillar is ready to spin up. Cecropia usually
attach their cocoons lengthwise to a branch. They are very easy to spot in winter
when all the leaves have dropped.
Eclosion:
Cecropia moths usually eclose in the morning through mid-June
to mid-July. They are univoltine.(one brood a year.) Upon eclosing (the actual
event in which the moth escapes from the cocoon) it will look for a place to
climb and dry its wings. I keep my cocoons in an paper-towel lined aquarium
with a cover I made out of 1/4 inch hardware screening. Three sides are also
draped in paper towel. When the moth hatches, it will climb the paper towel
and then hang from the screen cover.
Scenting and Mating:
All female moths in the family "Saturniidae"
have a scent gland. This gland produces a pheromone that the male moth can "smell"
with his antennae. He can track her up to seven miles away on this pheromone.
The female cecropia usually extends her scent gland between 11:00 P.M. to 3:00
A.M., but times vary depending on location.
After the male moth finds the female, mating occurs. The pair will stay coupled
anyway from a few hours to a day and a half. This also depends on the species
and location of the moth. After mating has occurred, the female will fly off
to search out trees and shrubs on which she can lay her eggs. Based on captivity
laying, the female lays her eggs in short rows of 5 or 6.
