Two of the three captive Hyalophora cecropia females we set outside paired with wild males last night. These are the first pairings of this year. On the third night since we started setting captive females outside to call in wild males, we finally got pairings with two of the three females. The two females were the larger of the three, one of which eclosed three days ago that failed to call in a male the past two nights, and the other of which that just eclosed yesterday. Both also happened to be in the wire cage with larger holes (1 square inch) that we switched to last night since we suspected the cage with smaller holes (1/2 square inch) that we used the past two nights was physically preventing males from copulating with the female. The female that failed to pair was the smallest of the three and was in the cage with smaller holes. This suggests that our suspicion was perhaps correct, though sample size is small and it could be a coincidence. Either way, though, we'd rather play it safe and use the one with larger holes from now on, even if there is a small risk smaller individuals could escape. The wild males in the pairings were still paired with the females long after the sun rose and remained coupled until dawn. Like we observed last year with the wild males called in, they are extremely large compared to our captive males and even a bit larger than the females. Alas, growth in the wild must be much superior to captive, crowded, conditions even when reared in sleeves. In addition, the males have darker, more contrasting colors, with a darker gray ground color, crisper white and red margins, and darker red body. This differs from our captive individuals (both male and female), which tend to have a lighter grey ground color that is infused with more white and yellow scales and have lighter red bodies. We noticed the same thing last year and weren't sure if it were genetic or environmental. We are starting to suspect it is more environmental at this point, since the males from last year and this year have been consistently this darker phenotype. Perhaps the temperature and humidity that the cocoons diapaused or developed under affected the coloration? Not sure if we would ever know for sure but it's an interesting to note. ![]() Alan Liang Alan Liang is a student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York pursuing an undergraduate degree in entomology. He is co-owner and a main contributor of the Liang Insects blog and photographs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Timeline 2017–present
Ithaca, New York This timeline is a series of daily posts recording our observations and experiences with various insects (primarily Lepidoptera) around the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York, starting from the time we moved here in 2017. As this is a personal blog, we try to keep collections/rearings for university research and course work to a minimum, and mainly focus on just the species we catch and raise for our own fun and interest. Posts prior to this time can be viewed at Timeline 2012-2017: Albany, California, though there is occasionally some crossover when we have returned home during breaks or reared stock derived from home (see Albany, California Updates). Archives (232)
July 2020 (1) August 2019 (2) July 2019 (35) June 2019 (46) May 2019 (20) March 2019 (1) January 2019 (1) November 2018* October 2018* September 2018 (1)* August 2018 (9)* July 2018 (11)* June 2018 (22*) May 2018 (18)* April 2018 (2)* January 2018 (6) December 2017 (5) November 2017 (1) October 2017 (5) September 2017 (26) August 2017 (19) *Currently, a significant portion of 2018 posts are missing. The notes/photos for this time period are saved on our personal files but the posts were never built due to a busy schedule that year. We are still actively building these posts when we have the time. Authors
![]() ![]() Full Species List
(Alphabetical by scientific name) Note: - Not every species we encounter is necessarily presented on this site, rather a selection of those that were of particular interest to us and that we felt were worth documenting. - We can't guarantee that all species have been identified accurately, particularly taxa we are not as familiar with. Lepidoptera Actias luna Agraulis vanillae Allancastria cerisyi Amphion floridensis Ancyloxypha numintor Antheraea polyphemus Battus philenor hirsuta Callosamia promethea Colias eurytheme Citheronia regalis Cupido comyntas Danaus plexippus Darapsa myron Diadema inscriptum Epargyreus clarus Erynnis baptisiae Estigmene acrea Euchaetes egle Eumorpha pandorus Hemaris diffinis Hyalophora cecropia Limenitis archippus Liminitis arthemis arthemis Limenitis arthemis astyanax Manduca sexta Orgyia leucostigma Pachysphinx modesta Paonias myops Papilio cresphontes Papilio eurymedon Papilio glaucus Papilio polyxenes asterius Papilio rutulus Papilio troilus Papilio zelicaon Pyrgus communis Samia ricini Smerinthus ophthalmica Speyeria cybele Sphecodina abbottii Vanessa atalanta Vanessa cardui Vanessa virginiensis Lepidoptera Hybrids Papilio polyxenes asterius × Papilio zelicaon Orthoptera Conocephalus sp. Dissosteira carolina Melanoplus femurrubrum Neoconocephalus ensiger Neoxabea bipunctata Phasmatodea Carausius morosus Diapheromera femorata Mantodea Mantis religiosa Albany, California Updates |