leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 11, 2018 10:06:56 GMT -8
I thought I would try this just to see who is actually looking for Cocoons.
Today my wife and I traveled to Prestonburg, KY to visit her Sister, Ms Effie. We took Ms Effie to the regional medical Center and while Momma tended to Ms Effie, I got out and walked around the medical complex to look for Cocoons. There are numerous European Birch trees and some Sweet Gum and Silver Maples. I had brought an 8'Cocoon Pole (Two 4 foot poles that snap together.) I found numerous polyphemus cocoons, and two Angulifera(?) cocoons.
I saw several promethea along a fence line in Owen County.
On Monday I visited an area in Wolfe County to check two Bait Traps (I have very few records of anything from Wolfe County). Winter/Cold Weather Moths should be interesting. Wolfe County is mostly heavy old forest. There area several areas with large stands/population of Poplar trees. Host for Callosamia angulifera. Should be worth a look.
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Post by exoticimports on Dec 11, 2018 10:58:02 GMT -8
I pulled a few out of the yard last year. Turns out one was dead before pupating and one had eclosed. I looked for more but with 160 acres of forest, they have quite a selection and are hard to find.
I used to pull cecropia off a picnic table below a willow tree, but they cut down the tree.
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Post by Paul K on Dec 11, 2018 12:46:55 GMT -8
I thought I would try this just to see who is actually looking for Cocoons. Yes! I look high and low ! Nothing ! I am not sure if they are rare here or I suck really in this activity, I think it’s the second one. Paul
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 11, 2018 16:42:44 GMT -8
I can find cocoons wherever I find European Birch Tree's which are planted as ornamentals. Medical facilities, office complexes, apartment complexes and just about anywhere that European Birch Tree's are planted. And there are Cecropia cocoons mixed in with the Polyphemus.
I have not found Callosamia promethea on any type of Birch. I have only found them on Wild Cherry, Sassafras and occasionally on trees growing next to or amongst Sassafras and Wild Cherry.I found one hanging on a barbwire fence. I am sure there was a host plant near by.
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Post by LEPMAN on Dec 11, 2018 18:09:29 GMT -8
I thought I would try this just to see who is actually looking for Cocoons. Yes! I look high and low ! Nothing ! I am not sure if they are rare here or I suck really in this activity, I think it’s the second one. Paul Don’t worry, your not the only one! Maybe I gotta find some birch trees, but I have no idea where they are around me!
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Post by Paul K on Dec 11, 2018 18:20:59 GMT -8
I had European birch tree on my back yard, my two neighbours on each side had one and I never saw any cocoons there and it was suburb area.
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Post by eurytides on Dec 11, 2018 19:47:07 GMT -8
There are local host plant preferences. I find cecropia cocoons rarely, but associated with silver maple or other maple species usually. Polyphemus cocoons pop up randomly. I don’t find them commonly. I find loads of promethea cocoons on white ash.
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Post by Paul K on Dec 11, 2018 20:40:47 GMT -8
There are local host plant preferences. I find cecropia cocoons rarely, but associated with silver maple or other maple species usually. Polyphemus cocoons pop up randomly. I don’t find them commonly. I find loads of promethea cocoons on white ash. I think I should visit Kingston soon
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Post by eurytides on Dec 11, 2018 21:27:11 GMT -8
Hey Paul, if you are in the region let me know and I can give you some directions to good collecting spots. Not this year though...I’ve already grabbed all the cocoons I could find haha!
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Post by Paul K on Dec 12, 2018 7:23:21 GMT -8
Do you find them in the woodland area or as Leroy around some establishments.?
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 12, 2018 7:33:04 GMT -8
I just visited the University of Kentucky campus this AM. This must be a boom year for polyphemus. I saw numerous cocoons of polyphemus. No Cecropia.
No, I did not collect any any cocoons. I actually have a drawer full of Polyphemus. And all from cocoons.
Friday, weather permitting, I may begin to walk fence lines in old fields.
Tomorrow I am meeting a friend in Menifee County (Daniel Boone NF) and we will lift bark and looking for overwintering Noctuid moths. My friend baited numerous trees in September and October. After visiting the bait, the moths will crawl under the bark. The last time I joined him to lift bark was 2011. We did very well.
The high temperatures the next several days will be in the mid to upper 50's. I will check and replace the bait in my traps. I plan on taking several bait traps to Menifee County as well (All Slotted Pan Type).
We are in for a good soaking on Friday. A couple of inches of rain.
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Post by mothman27 on Dec 12, 2018 7:54:26 GMT -8
I haven't spent time really looking this year yet but I always keep my eye out. This year I am up to 0. Is it just me or do they get harder to find every year? I usually find a couple polyphemus right around my house in the mulch. About five years ago I found both promethea and angulifera around my hose on lilac and tulip. Since then, none. I found about four cecropia last year which was more than previous years. I would say the only saturniid I have found with regularity in the summer is polyphemus. The other main species usually come to scenting females though. Still a couple oddballs like regalis that I have yet to see at all. Black cherry is around and I always look but cannot find promethea. There are not too many cherry so I can check all the trees but still no luck. Not sure where they come from.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 12, 2018 11:39:35 GMT -8
Look around for Sassafras, that is the favorite larval host. Small wild cherry is also a good host, especially in fence lines along roads. The Interstate systems are good for both trees in their fence lines.
When I was 13 to 18, we (My best friend) would ride our bikes from the far East side of Cleveland (Go Brown's), Ohio out into Lake and Geauga counties in pursuit of cocoons. We would always find Promethea, Cecropia and an occasional Angulifera. Seldom if ever did we find polyphemus. It was not until the early 1970's and European Birch were becoming a common decorative did I begin to find polyphemus. I never found a cocoon of Actias Luna. However, I reared them all before I was 16.
I still have specimens in my collection from those years, although the Luna have faded to almost white.
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Post by eurytides on Dec 12, 2018 12:12:02 GMT -8
Hi Paul,
No, unlike Leroy, I rarely have any luck finding cocoons in the city near buildings and such. Mine are found along trails or rural areas. Promethea and cecropia moths seem to like places with young trees though, at an early stage of succession. Old forests with huge trees, though nice looking, doesn't seem to be good habitat. Where abouts in the GTA are you located and where do you usually go to look? Do you know Alan Macnaughton from the TEA? He can probably let you know of some good collecting spots near you.
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Post by Paul K on Dec 12, 2018 14:53:16 GMT -8
I’m in Mississauga and I go often to Halton Hills Area ( Niagara Escarpment ), also some forest north of GTA. I don’t know Alan as I was a member of TEA for short time and long time ago.
Paul
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