Cecropia moth haunts

Do a search on this site for "cecropia" and you'll find a number of discussions on the species. One topic you'll find is cocoons, and as you'll read they are often in your back yard, if you look. Paul K has demonstrated new-found success.

My back yard is forest, which, ironically, makes it difficult to find any cocoons, since they have such a wealth of foodplant. It's easier to find cocoons where there is a separate stand of trees than it is in the forest.

I found two cocoons this winter, both by accident. One was in my back yard on the edge of the forest, on a wild rose, approximately 1.5m above the ground. The other was in Zoar Valley, on an unknown plant, approximately .3m above ground. In both cases, an extensive search of the area yielded no further cocoons.

You'll read in another thread that cecropia isn't very well drawn by MV lamps. The most common means to find them is on suburban commercial buildings on which large lights light up the side of the building. Females will come to these lights, and it's common to find a male already attached.

See www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Hyalophora-cecropia for records of cecropia; they are very common throughout the North East USA and range into northern Florida. Take a look at the data map, it answers some of your questions. I don't believe them to be localized at all. They are, of course, more likely to be found in the vicinity of their foodplants, so it is indeed less likely to find them in a swamp or the plains. But where there are maple, cherry, or willow trees, there are cecropia.

Now, here's a fun thing to do called anticipation. On the site linked above for cecropia (and any other species) sort the data by observation and most recent. You can watch the eclosures marching north, starting in FL then GA, then Virginia. As of now, no records yet for PA or NY. But they are "coming".

Hope that helps.

Chuck

I found several cocoons of Hyalophora cecropia hanging in trees in my new neighborhood. The only reason I see them is I walk 1.6 Miles every morning.

I also carry a killing jar and a pair of tweezers. I actually carry a pair of tweezers in my shirt pocket from the time I get out of bed in the morning until I go back to bed at night. I also have tweezers in my car, just about every room in my house. Tweezers are just part of my attire.

I have 2 examples in my collection. I don't consider it a common moth either.

Luna, polyphemus, Promethea readily come to MV and BL. Polyphemus earlier in the night, Luna not till after 2am.

I very rarely get cecropia at lights, and I run them all night, sheets and kill traps. Cecropia are more easily found on the side of the shopping market and another commercial building with sodium vapor lights.

Hey everyone!
I have a cecropia moth that hatched yesterday morning. Its been about 30 hours now and her wings are not fully spread.I am worried at this point and not sure what to do. Please, any advice would be highly appreciated! 

If I had a virgin female cecropia (even with deformed wings), I’d put her out in the screened porch positioned nice and high and check through out the night for males coming in. After getting a few good specimens, I’d take one or two and put them in the porch w her to get a mating. If this works for ya, I’d be glad to get a handful of ova......sometimes a female will lay hundreds. After her long copula, put her in a paper bag so she can lay ova. You can cut the bag into pieces and even staple them onto cherry leaves or other foodplants. The list is long of possible foods. Good luck. Don’t wait though....get her out tonight for sure. Btw....you could also gently tether Her on a string, but just try to protect her from birds....especially in the dawn hours.