Calleta Silkmoth
Family: Saturniidae, Subfamily: Saturniinae
Spinning cocoon
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11:31 A.M. September 10, 2013
#2 Silking to the Stem
This part becomes the top loop of the cocoon
12:12 P.M. September 10, 2013
#2 Spinning more silk to strengthen and form the cocoon
12:45 P.M. September 10, 2013
#2 Spinning the cocoon
1:25 P.M. September 10, 2013
#2 Spinning
1:52 P.M. September 10, 2013
#2 spinning. Notice the thick band of
silk threads securing the cocoon to the stem.
Also note the hole left open at the top of the
cocoon so the caterpillar can go in and out.
3:45 P.M. September 10, 2013
#2 continuing to spin the band attached to the stem
Notice the hole at the top
3:45 P.M. 10 September 2013
#2 Spinning and attaching more silk to the stem
3:46 P.M. 10 September 2013
#2 Spinning inside the cocoon
Notice the hole at the top
4:31 P.M. September 10, 2013
#2 The caterpillar is spinning and weaving
inside the cocoon
5:51 P.M. September 10, 2013
#2 Cocoon
7:25 P.M. September 10, 2013
#1 Cocoon spun overnight 7-8 September 2013
Photo on 8 September 2013
| Photo Details ©Nicky Davis On 15 August 2012 I received first and second instars from John Richards. They had been feeding on privet and were moved to Lilac successfully. They were located and oviposited on 1 August 2013 Box Canyon, Pima County, Arizona. Emerged 11 August 2013. First instars were 4 mm. long Second instar 16 August, 2013, 11 mm. long on 18 August 2013 Third instar 20 August, 12 mm 21 August, 15 mm on 22 August, 20 mm on 23 August, 24 mm on 24 August #1 set to molt on 25 August Fourth instar (#1) 26 August - 25 mm long on 26 August Fifth Instar (#1) 31 August -2013 #1 Fifth Instar on 1 September 40 mm, on 2 September 47 mm, on 3 September 50 mm, on 5 September 60 mm, on 6 September 60 mm. #2 Fifth Instar on 8 September was 75 mm. long and purged liquid the night of 9th September. The length of these are quite variable from when they are resting and when they are stretched out to feed. 5 days as first instar 4 days as second instar 6 days as third instar 5 days as fourth instar 9 days as fifth instar Cocoon Spinning #1 purged liquid and spun the cocoon overnight on 7-8 September 2013. #2 purged liquid before 8 A.M. 10 September 2013. It had started to spin in a place where two stems came together. Since that would have been awkward to move to a place to overwinter, I removed some leaves and moved the stem. The caterpillar began to re-spin the cocoon after investigating the new arrangement in detail. It finally put an anchor down on a leaf at 11:30 A.M. and had the cocoon formed by 7:25 P.M. the same day. I believe it was still silking inside the cocoon for some time after that. On 4 October 2013, after they had all pupated inside the cocoons, they were placed in the crisper of the fridge to overwinter. Host Plant
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