Our cynthia silkmoth (Samia cynthia advena) and Jacobs' silkmoth (Rothschildia jacobaeae) cocoons have arrived. Today we had six cynthia and four Jacobs' silkmoth cocoons arrive. They are freshly spun but we do not know if they are diapausing, though we will know in the next few weeks based on if they eclose or not. Regardless of when they do, we plan to obtain pairings and eggs from them. Above are the cocoons of the cynthia silkmoth (Samia cynthia advena). The Samia genus is taxonimically ambiguous, but these should be the subspecies advena, which refers to the population in eastern North America that was introduced from China in the late 1800s in attempt to start a silk industry. They are very closely related to the eri silkmoth (Samia ricini) that we have and are currently rearing which is also a species used in the silk industry. The cocoons are somewhat irregularly shaped, being generally narrow and tapered at both ends, though more so at the top. Three are still wrapped in the leaf of some plant. They are slightly narrower and more compact than our old eri Silkmoth cocoons as seen in the comparison in the bottom two photos. As for color, the cynthia cocoons are a light tan while the eri's are almost white. In grams, they weigh 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.7, and 2.8 respectively, which averages to 2.07 each. However, the masses are clearly bimodal, with heavier suggesting female and lighter suggesting male, meaning we likely have two females and four males. The general life history of the S. c. adevena is probably extremely similar to that of S. ricini, and will therefore also be extremely easy to rear. The caterpillars utilize ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima) in the wild but will take a variety of alternatives in captivity such as Prunus and Ligustrum which we will use if the moths eclose next spring. However, if they are not diapausing and we must rear the caterpillars this winter, we might have to experiment with citrus (Citrus) which we are currently feeding our ricinis. We look forward to seeing the differences between each life stage of S. c. advena and S. ricini. And here (above) are the Jacobs' silkmoth (Rothschildia jacobaeae) cocoons. This species is endemic to Argentina and is part of the very diverse Latin American genus Rothschildia (Rothchild's silkmoths). The genus is said to be the New World relative of the Asiatic genus Attacus based on adult morphology (they look quite similar, being primarily brown with large transparent portions on each wing), though this could be symplesiomorphic so their taxonomic relationship is still debated. The cocoons are shaped somewhat like those of Hyalophora cecropia but are much smoother and less tapered at the top. They are a light brown and quite thin, caving in easily when pressed. It does not look like there were ever leaves attached to them due to the very perfectly smooth surface, though there are indentations on the ventral sides where the twigs were removed. In grams, they weigh 2.5, 2.8, 3.6, and 3.8 respectively which averages to 3.18 each. However, just like the cynthia cocoons, the masses are bimodal, with heavier suggesting female and lighter suggesting male, meaning we likely have two females and two males. We have not yet raised a Rothschildia species yet (though we have unsuccessfully attempted to rear the allied Eupackardia calleta once), so we really don't know much about them let alone any specific characteristics of this particular species. For example, we aren't even sure what hosts plants R. jacobaeae utilizes in captivity. Though fortunately, the caterpillars (like most Attacini silkmoth larvae) should be able to use various plants in the Oleeae tribe (family: Oleaceae) such as ashes (Fraxinus sp.), privets (Ligustrum sp.), common lilac (Syringus vulgare), and possibly others. If any of these fail, we can try other typical Rothschildia or Attacini hosts if they are available, such as Prunus and possibly Citrus. In the case that these cocoons are not diapausing and we have to rear them this winter, then we plan to use glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum), the only local species of privet we have, or citrus. Until then, we have both these and the cynthia cocoons placed in a plastic box lined with paper towels and lightly misted. - Alan
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Timeline 2012–2017
Albany, California This timeline is a series of daily posts recording our observations on and experiences with various insects in Albany California and surrounding areas, from 2012-2017. Since we did not publish this site until 2016, posts before that were constructed retroactively. Starting in August 2017, we moved to Ithaca, New York; posts from there on can be viewed at Timeline 2017-present: Ithaca, New York. Archives (1,011)
August 2017 (49) July 2017 (121) June 2017 (79) May 2017 (77) April 2017 (91) March 2017 (35) February 2017 (12) January 2017 (10) December 2016 (12) November 2016 (26) October 2016 (49) September 2016 (84) August 2016 (94) July 2016 (99) June 2016 (53) May 2016 (21) April 2016 (4) January 2016 (1) August 2015 (3) July 2015 (3) June 2015 (2) June 2014 (3) May 2014 (1) April 2014 (3) March 2014 (3) December 2013 (2) November 2013 (2) October 2013 (5) September 2013 (11) August 2013 (15) July 2013 (9) June 2013 (5) May 2013 (4) April 2013 (3) March 2013 (2) February 2013 (3) January 2013 (2) December 2012 (2) November 2012 (1) October 2012 (2) September 2012 (2) August 2012 (5) July 2012 (1) June 2012 (1) 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 Adelpha californica Agraulis vanillae Allancastria cerisyi Antheraea mylitta Antheraea polyphemus Anthocharis sara Argema mimosae Attacus atlas Battus philenor hirsuta Bombyx mori Caligo atreus Callosamia promethea Coenonympha tullia california Citheronia regalis Cricula trifenestrata Danaus plexippus Eacles imperialis Erynnis tristis Estigmene acrea Eumorpha achemon Eupackardia calleta Furcula cinereoides Heliconius erato Heliconius hecale Heliconius sapho Heliconius sara Hyalophora cecropia Hyalophora columbia Hyalophora euryalus Hylephila phyleus Hyles lineata Junonia coenia Langia zenzeroides formosana Lophocampa maculata Manduca sexta Morpho peleides Nymphalis antiopa Orgyia vetusta Orthosia hibisci quenquefasciata Pachysphinx modesta Papilio cresphontes Papilio eurymedon Papilio glaucus Papilio machaon oregonius Papilio multicaudata Papilio polyxenes asterius Papilio rumiko Papilio rutulus Papilio zelicaon Phyciodes mylitta Phyciodes pulchella Pieris rapae Plejebus acmon Poanes melane Polites sabuleti Polygonia satyrus Pyrgus communis Rothschildia jacobaeae Samia cynthia advena Samia ricini Smerinthus cerisyi Smerinthus ophthalmica Strymon melinus Trichoplusia ni Uresephita reversalis Vanessa annabella Vanessa atalanta Vanessa cardui Unidentified Lepidoptera Hybrids Papilio glaucus × Papilio rutulus Papilio polyxenes asterius × Papilio zelicaon Orthoptera Melanoplus devastator Phaneroptera nana Pristoceuthophilus pacificus Scudderia mexicana Trimerotropis pallidipennis Phasmatodea Carausius morosus Phyllium giganteum Mantodea Mantis religiosa Phyllocrania paradoxa Hymenoptera Apis mellifera Bombus vosnesenskii Brachymeria ovata Linepithema humile Pediobius sp. Polistes dominula Xylocopa varipuncta Unidentified Diptera Lucilia sericata Unidentified Hemiptera Brochymena sp. Leptoglossus sp. Nezara viridula Odonata Argia vivida Libellula croceipennis Coleoptera Coccinella septempunctata Cycloneda polita Diabrotica undecimpunctata Hippodamia convergens Araneae (Class: Arachnida) Araneus diadematus Phidippus johnsoni |