Male Emerged
photo of underside of Samia cynthia Silkmoth
After emerging from cocoon and pupa case
Wing pattern
Close-ups of Wing Markings
Close-up
Antenna
Dorsal View of Abdomen
Lateral View of Abdomen
Photo Details - ©Nicky Davis
Ova received from John Richards who received them from Greg Houtz, Schuy
Hill Haven, Pa. They are probably a non-native captive hand reared
moth. However, there are reports that this moth still exists in the
wild in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Prince Edward Island and Missouri .The Missouri report
of Cocoons found January 1, 1978 was verified
March 05, 2009. It was first introduced to the U.S.A. along with the
host plant Ailanthus altissima
- Tree of Heaven in the 1800's. The Tree of Heaven has been banned in some
states and is listed as noxious in 46 states.
These I rear won't be released into the wild.
Any species I rear so I can get life history photos are released
only in the spot where the female was located. If that is not possible,
they are not released.
OVA
Oviposited 19
August 2013 - Ten days as ova
LARVAE
Emerged 29 August 2013 - 5 mm long
Molted to Second Instars on 2 September 2013 (4 days as 1st Instar)
Molted to Third Instars
on 6-7 September 2013 (5 days as 2nd Instar)
Molted to Fourth Instars on 10-11 September 2013 (4 days as 3rd Instar)
Molted to Fifth Instars on 16-17 September 2013 (6 days as 4th Instar)
#4 purged liquid 3:30 P.M. 25 September (9 days as 5th Instar)
#2 purged liquid at 4:30 P.M. 25 September (9 days as 5th Instar)
#3 purged liquid at 7:00 A.M. 26 September (9 days as 5th Instar)
#1 purged liquid in the afternoon of 26 September (9 days as 5th instar)
After purging the excess liquid they rested a while then began going up to
the top of their individual plants looking for a good place to start cocoons.
Then they each began silking to the plant. They silked a leaf to the
plant to anchor it better so it wouldn't fall from the tree. They all spent
a great deal of time anchoring this main leaf to the stem. Some silked
the stem clear to the top. After this one leaf was anchored, they each
silked the entire leaf surface. This is the leaf that ends up being
silked around their bodies. Then they each started silking the two sides
together which pulls the leaf around them.
After all of these had formed cocoons and pupated, they were placed in hibernation.
They were placed in the crisper of a fridge at 41 F.
Came out of hibernation on May 1, 2014 and eclosed 1 June 2014
Host Plants
Range
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