Callosamia promethea Cocoons

We have received promethea moth (Callosamia promethea) from Massachusetts that we plan to obtain pairings and eggs from.

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Callosamia promethea - a relatively easy species to get that we've never tried before to spice things up with our rearing this season. The five cocoons are all of different sizes, with the largest being several times as large as the smallest in terms of mass. We assume this means we have a good sex ratio - we can't afford to not with only a few cocoons if we want to obtain pairings. They are still attached to branches and leaves that look only recently cut, meaning these cocoons are fresh. The shape of the cocoons is narrow and tapered at both ends, and somewhat resembles those of the Samia genus, as the two genera are likely relatively close within the Attacini clade, along with Hyalophora. The silk is a light brown and similar in shade to Hyalophora cecropia cocoons

​The last time we had these cocoons was some seven years ago, but they never eclosed after taking out of cold storage. Despite all the other Saturniids we have reared, we haven't actually tried one out of the Callosamia genus. Promethea is the most well-known, common, and widespread of the three member of the genus, (the other two being angulifera and securifera) so it's usually the only one traded. Unlike the other two, it is also highly polyphagous, feeding on similar trees as Hyalophora cecropia, and thus makes rearing it much easier. We plan on pairing the moths when they eclose and obtain eggs from them later this season. To make them eclose as fast a possible, we've stuck them in the incubator at a constant 77°F/25°C.

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​Authors
Alan Liang

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