Ophthalm Sphinx Moth Ecloses

Our female Ophthalm Sphinx moth (Smerinthus ophthalmica) has finally eclosed after 25 days in the pupal stage. This individual was found as an egg on 6/28/16 and reared on willow (Salix). We now have to find a way to call in a wild male.

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Back when our Ophthalm Sphinx caterpillar pupated on 8/2, we had assumed it was going to diapause and eclose next spring since there didn't seem to be enough time for another brood and some sources even claim they are univoltine. We even made sure to subject it to a natural scotoperiod during its final instar just to make sure it would diapause. Yet, today when we checked on it sitting in container in the basement, we almost jumped seeing a splendid newly eclosed moth! It must have emerged sometime during the night as that is their typical eclosion time. As predicted by the pupal gonophore, it was a female, with a large plump abdomen and thin antennae. The body and wing color is a tannish brown and the hindwings each have a large blue and black eyespot surrounded by pink. At rest, these are not shown because the forewings conceal the hindwings. The moth weighs 2.2g now, which is 1g less than it was as a pupa (3.2g). 

Since we are so fortunate that it is female, we now have a legitimate chance of calling in a wild male and having hundreds of eggs! However, we first needed to build a calling cage, which we did not have on us because we have never called in wild males with moths before and never expected it to eclose today. So, we hastily got a piece of screen, cut as many holes as possible on it so its abdomen can be accessible by the male and rolled it up into a cylinder with petri dish lids on both ends. Then, at around 10-11:00, we went out to Cerrito creek which is a perfect habitat for this species (plenty of willow trees along a stream) and placed the moth in the cage at the base of a tree.

- Alan