Cecropia moth haunts

[trehopr1]

I have always had a fondness for North America's largest moth species - Hyalophora cecropia. I personally have never necessarily regarded it as common because honestly, I have seen very few wild examples in life ever... In fact, I remember well when I was in junior high (middle school) and all through my years in High school I only very occasionally found a cocoon. The species of coarse has a rather short window for adult life and is noted for having a very late "call time" or period of activity = 2-3am. until sunrise.

Anyway, in looking over several information sites (as well as some of my insect books); I have found the range of this species as being very cursory in description. Basically, it is shown on maps as being found all over the Eastern half of the United States. If you go strictly with this way of thinking than one would think you would find it as often as say an Armyworm moth (which probably IS found all over the Eastern seaboard AND then some)...

So, for those of you reading this I'd like to know of some of the more "far flung haunts" where you have found it. For example, is it REALLY found in Florida or Maine? If so, just how far into either state. How about the Gulf States? And what about Texas or even further West (and just how far)... Are there any "dead zones" or regions within this huge range map where the species has simply never been seen.

I think a more up to date description of its range should be "Localized" where found. I say this, given all of the development which has taken place over the last 40 years; as well as the loss of natural areas (to land use), and of coarse the over-use of pesticides/herbicides.

Keep in mind this species also has a very high mortality rate.

[Paul K]

I found this winter six live cocoons, three from last season and one parasited. The range was within 80 km west of Toronto.
Some were found in the Carolinian forest, some in disturb areas ( farm field tree borders ).

Last winter I found two live cocoons within Greater Toronto Arae. ( city parks ).

It looks like this year will be good for Cecropia in Southern Ontario.
I will be taking them out of my fridge soon.

[exoticimports]

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

[jhyatt]

I haven't seen a live wild cecropia in the mountains of eastern TN in decades, but I don't do a lot of moth lighting here. I used to visit a couple of
"good" gas stations early in the mornings to look for moths, but never found cecropias among the many Saturniids that I'd find. But then the owners painted
their outside walls dark brown, and moths no longer come to them...

I did run across a beautiful fresh female cecropia sitting in broad daylight on the steps to a building at the edge of the salt marsh on the Georgia coast several years ago.
I carried her to the woods and released her there. This spot was maybe 60 miles N of the GA/FL line. But 7 years' consistent monthly moth surveying on Sapelo Island, GA,
has not turned up a single Cecropia, despite Sapelo being only about 4 miles across the marsh and water from the above-mentioned site.

I've never considered cecropia to be a common moth here.

Cheers,
jh

[leptraps]

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.

[58chevy]

Cecropia is a rarity in southeast TX. I never see them, but Charlie Swank collected 3 of them (2 females) at lights in Sugar Valley, TX earlier this spring. Many years ago I collected a male near San Antonio, TX in broad daylight. In the early 1950s my uncle used to find them around Houma, LA.

[Deleted]

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

[evra]

All members of Hyalophora seem to fly a bit earlier in the year and on colder nights than you might think. The males fly really really late at night too. I wonder if the perceived rarity is simply collectors packing up their lights early. My experience with H. gloveri and H. euryalus in the spring is usually being out in big stands of the appropriate host plants in just above freezing weather until 2-3 AM with nothing else flying. It’s really not very fun collecting. But on nights when I do find them it’s frequently 5-10 at a time.

[exoticimports]

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.

[mothman27]

Although they don't come to my lights I occasionally find cocoons and they come readily to the scenting females. 

[yuliayvs]

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! 

[Paul K]

Jun 11, 2020 15:47:10 GMT -8 yuliayvs said:

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! 

Nothing you can do, it won’t spread anymore at this point. If it’s a female you may consider raise Cecropia.

[Deleted]

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.

[Paul K]

Or if you don't live where Cecropia might be bring your female to the forest.