Cecropia Moth Eggs Hatch

Our Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia) eggs have finally hatched today.

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Upon returning from school at around 12:40 PM, we looked inside the egg container and were delighted to find that 20 newborn Cecropia caterpillars were wandering around inside. Today is day 11 since the 5/27 eggs were laid. We do not know exactly what time they hatched since we were at school, but it looked like it had been at least an hour for most of them since their bodies were completely black in color meaning their exoskeletons were already dry. A few that looked like they had just hatched were lighter in color and had a yellowish hint to their tubercles because their exoskeleton hadn't completely tanned and hardened yet. You can clearly see the newly hatched lighter individuals in the first three pictures next to the darker ones.

Though many Lepidoptera will eat all or part of their eggs shells after hatching, none of the Cecropia caterpillars did. We separated the Cecropia caterpillars into five plastic containers (the same kind we used to for the eggs), with 4 caterpillars in each one. We then got plastic test tubes, filled them up with water, poked holes at the top, and stuck a single leaf in with the stem in the water. This will keep the leaves as fresh as possible and was the same rearing method we used for the Luna caterpillars. For one of the containers we placed a plum leaf inside but for the other four we offered apple leaves. We have both apple and plum leaves in our back yard, but there are much more apple leaves. They won't eat foliage immediately but should initiate feeding tonight. We hope the remaining 19 will hatch tomorrow and/or the day after that. ​

- Alan