Hmmm I did not think about them not emerging.... I might still try it away. I know they enclose based on time and not really temp. I always figured they enclosed once they were fat enough and if you stunted some they would probably stay as larva longer but I guess maybe they wouldn't. I raised mine entirely inside this year since I move to an apartment. Thanks for the journal article. I tried to find it online through my libraries data base. Looks like they might have it on paper and/or microfiche I'll see if I can get a hold of it. I'd have to run the idea through my adviser and see if they agree to it. The project is totally open and I just need to do something that is worth 2 credits. I'm just trying to test ideas on some projects I actually find interesting vs writing some boring 20 page paper lol. My room mate suggested maybe an experiment to see if I can get them to emerge from their cocoons early. Last year my first moth emerged on 5/30 classes end 5/4 so there is a pretty big difference there. I just don't really feel confident in doing a project that would run to the end of my last semester or perhaps past it. Thanks for noticing the spelling lol. Looking back is seems I have a bad habit of spelling it that way. I'm pretty sure I say it right, like sic-ro-pia? My cecropias are at least one generation inbred. I bought eggs from someone in MN about 3 hours away. I got 12 moths from that. Those ended up inbreeding since I was unsuccessful in luring in any wild males. I'm gonna try again to get some wild ones with this generation. I released a few of the adult moths. My mom insists on going on a trip basically the same time the moths start emerging. Last year the moths ended up going with us 3 hours north. I gave a moth and some baby cats to nature center up there. I'm not sure are there any risks spreading the general captive population around like that and releasing them?

This brings back a sweet memory. When I was about ten years old I developed a great interest in butterflies and moths that continues to this day. Once I found a Cecropia moth cocoon, I put it on my window sill to observe it. One evening a female Cecropia moth 'hatched.' Beautiful! She clung to the screen and when I awoke at first light the next morning there were about a dozen male Cecropia moths gliding around the window looking for her. It was a magical moment that I will never forget. I caught one and let them mate (as my mother rolled her eyes) she laid eggs, my dad built a little cage for them and the babies were raised on the leaves of the small tree on which I had found the cocoon. In those days so many years ago they didn't know about pheromones. It was thought perhaps some sort of radio waves were sent and received by the moth's antennae; so said the butterfly and moth book my mom bought for me. Another big thrill was when I saw the book with big shiny pictures in a store window, we walked right in and my mom got it. It was the start of my loving to read and especially to read about insects.

Wow! I sure do hope the rest make it, too, MissSherry. I agree with Dan, that big cats do have a higher mortality rate than others. This includes the big sphinx cats, too. Today I found a Walnut Sphinx (amorpha juglandis) on a pecan seedlings in my yard.....finally. Since Randy found one earlier, I've been checking my foliage for signs of consumation of leaves. I totally missed this one, though, and he is about a 4th instar. I sure do hope he does not show signs of parasitization when he reaches the last instar of growth! Anyway, he is in a container now, with food, and I'll put some potting soil and leaves in the bottom today. They are very STRONG! When disturbed or threatened, they whip their upper torso back and forth almost violently! I guess it upset him when I was cutting foliage while holding him on a leaf at the same time, because he sure did make a fuss about it. I also have a baby tobacco hornworm on my tomatoes. I need to go back out and get her into a container as well. So far, I've had Tobacco Hornworms (manduca sexta) Tomato Hornworms (manduca quinquemaculata) Eumorpha Achemon Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing sphinx) Amphion floridensis (Nessus sphinx) Trumpet Vine Sphinx Six different species in my urban yard! I think that's pretty darned good actually. Of course, those silk moths - one of these days I hope to see some in the yard. We are just on the westerly line for most of them. If I lived in Eastern Oklahoma rather than Central Oklahoma, I'd see more of them. Susan

Even 15 years ago Belize required a permit to collect leps, and a CITES permit for listed species. And then there's Mexico where the required permits are next to impossible to get unless you are working on a project with one of their own bona fide Lepidopterists', or if you have a grant approved by their government. Any that were smuggled in from those countries were in direct violation of the Lacey Act, and the laws of those countries, period. Now days I think all the countries in North, Central and South America require permits. Accidental AND intentional introductions of new species have been not only allowed since the beginning of time, but propagated by our government. A couple of the best examples are FL and HI where endemic speasies are being replaced by non indigenous species. I guess they think APHIS will stop it, it won't. It's not the would be hobbyist who is the threat, it's our own customs department and those seeking the almighty buck. Personally, I consider any business based around selling any species of wildlife as exploitation of the wildlife. Licensed so called butterfly farms where only those reared in excess are sold do probably take some of the pressure off some of the species, but far to many who sell them for profit only acquire them from wild populations and decimate them. Wouldn't bother me a bit to see every lep for sale company shut down worldwide. Will never happen though... too many countries count on lepidopteran sales to strengthen their economy. Luckily many of them do protect the wild populations though, and those sold only come from butterfly farms. PNG is a good example with the ever present demand worldwide for their "Birdwings". We've strayed a long ways and hijacked this thread pard. Out of respect for Christie, and those who think when they open the thread they'll find out all about H. cecropia (and probably don't care about where we're going)... I think a new thread (and moving these posts to it - Larry Gene?) would be a good idea.