Late polyphemus caterpillar and azalea biting bug

[norwegianblue]

Hi Guys!

I`m gonna be on this board a lot over next summer I think. I`ve had a couple of unique sightings for me. The first one that has me a bit worried is the Polyphemus caterpillar I saw today.

I know that they typically emerge in may from their cocoons. I spotted this fella in the park with a gaggle of preschoolers, and then when I came back, he had cocooned. I`m just wondering if it`s unusual to see them cocoon in september. I`m also wondering if it`s OK to snip the branch that he`s on and bring the cocoon inside. There will be frost in the next week, I think.

An unrelated sighting was that of an azalea biting bug, which I allowed to crawl on my arm until, to my amazement, it inserted a probiscus and I began to feel a sting. I blew it off my arm, and then searched and searched the internet to identify it. I live in New Brunswick, Canada, and I`ve never seen one of these before. Anyone know their range or whether they typically travel on their host plants to regions outside their range. (I`d be interested in the possibility of putting them on thrips detail if they didn`t bite humans)

Anyway, I will return with more questions. Excited to be on here, and next summer, I think me and the preschoolers will be using this forum a lot.

Best,
NB

[admin]

For a freshly spun cocoon, you can snip if off, but handle with care. In the first 24 hours the larvae inside in vunerable to damage, until the cocoon is fully dry and hardened. Don't drop it, in other words.

As for spinning in September. It's possible I guess. It depends on the geographical location.

Not necessary to bring the cocoon inside. In fact it is better that you leave it in a cage outside so it can naturally hibernate in the coming cold. It won't emerge until next year.

[norwegianblue]

Thanks a lot for that information, Clark. We've got several more warm days, but he or she will probably choose to hibernate. The caterpillar was spectacular. I've never been so impressed with a bug. The bat-sized moth will be equally cool.

[oehlkew]

In southern Canada and most of the northern states, Antheraea polyphemus is single brooded. Most of my larvae have cocooned here on PEI in eastern Canada, but I still have some feeding.
In the southern states there can be as many as 4-5 broods each year, and I have reports of them still feeding in early December in southern Alabama. As a matter of fact, one morning the breeder thought he had lost them to frost, brought in some rigid, stiff caterpillars to show his family, and after half an hour or so the larvae began to crawl around, eventually spun cocoons and emerged the following spring.

Bill Oehlke