Hi misssherry,
I don't have a cage to raise them in but I do have 2 large hickorys and 4 large sweetgum trees in my yard. We used to see Lunas once in a while but haven't in several years. I would love to try some eggs to try and re-establish this species here in central NC. If you feel I could be a good foster parent for them could you please either send me some directions or a link to some. Please contact me at wildflowerman_2000@yahoo.com and thanks for any consideration.
Regards,
Mark

Sherry,

I'd take some to raise.

I have a huge park area within a mile of my house with lots of Pecan trees. Bill O says they will eat these leaves. I could handle about 10 at most--I've still got Cecropias.

Email me on the forum.

Sandy

I've e-mailed you, Sandy, and I'll e-mail you, too Mark.
Another pair - male and female have emerged today, so I might get more eggs!
Here's a link to Bill Oehlke's advice about raising lunas.
Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: Raising Luna Moths

Wow. I can't even remember the last time I posted in this forum. I think the only one who may remember me is Sherry! I am so tempted to ask for eggs, it's been so long since I have raised anything. Not sure I would have enough room/resources in my Boston apartment now though. But it's so darn tempting! I love living in the city now but miss having a backyard and the space to keep up my Lep addiction! Hope all is well with you Sherry, I have been in and out of the forum for a while reading everyone's posts. Hopefully soon I will be able to contribute more.

Sherry,
I got your email and answered it. THANKS so much for the link on how to handle them. It is wonderful resource and after reading it I feel much more comfortable handling lots of eggs so whatever you can send would be appreciated and hopefully I'll get a good population started here in NC.
Mark

Miss Sherry, if you do wind up with eggs, we'd be happy to take care of some of them for you. We have luna moths around here, I've seen several on our house over the years, and we're surrounded by hickory on all sides. My just-turned-seven-year-old son, John, would love to be a part of this. (He's homeschooled, so we get into this sort of thing a lot).

Anna

E-mail me your address and let me know how many you think you can raise, Anna, and I'll send you some eggs.
Good to hear from you, Irishguy! As I recall, you used to raise a lot of big moths and spicebush swallowtails - too bad you're in an apartment in the city! Hopefully, one day you can move back to a more rural setting. You can still read the posts here, though - we'd love to hear from you more.
Sherry

Sherry, perhaps if you decide to raise any Lunas from this batch and could spare some extra cocoons, you could send me some? I have never seen a live Luna, I have only raised Poly's and Prometheas. Would love the opportunity!

Okay, Irishguy, I'll raise some of these, don't know how many just yet, but I wanted to give some to good homes to reduce the number to a more manageable amount. I'll let you know about cocoons.
Sherry

If possible, are you able to ship to PA with a permit? I think both the shipper and receiver must have a permit, am I right?
Please email me at awgaupp@aol.com

Thank you very much,
Adam

Adam, I don't have a permit, but I do limit my rare shipping of eggs to states where the lep occurs naturally, so the releases can blend in with the natives or help to restore diminished populations. I only have a few eggs left, that I saved for myself. I figure if anybody wants to make a case about me sending eggs without a permit - I've received them from people who don't have permits - then go ahead. It would cost money to get one, which would hardly be worth it for just a few eggs. Surely what's happening with the oil spill shows what a disaster bureaucracies are.
I went ahead and sent out eggs to Sandy and Mark.
Anna, you never sent me your address, and I couldn't wait - luna eggs hatch in less time in hot weather.
Mark and Sandy, the eggs are in hard, glucose strip containers. When you open the cap, don't turn it upside down, or the eggs will spill out.
Sherry

Thanks, Sherry. I appreciate it. I'm getting past my bureaucratic concerns! It must have something to do with age.

Adam, I would go through Bill Oehlke if I lived in the north. He has eggs from your part of the country.

Sandy

Darn, I didn't see this in time and I guess you're out of eggs now, Sherry. If they eat walnut leaves, I'd have taken a dozen or so. I have about half a dozen walnut trees coming up here and there that are at least 8 feet tall; I imagine that would be enough to feed them. I've never raised Luna moths and haven't seen any around here for about 5 years. I think they're absolutely beautiful!

I'm not raising anything else right now except about a dozen American Ladies and 7 Black Swallowtails. I just got done feeding over 200 Pipevine Swallowtails, and now they've all pupated. Whew, that was a lot of work, but it will be worth it when we see those pretty butterflies eclosing!

If you ever get more Luna moth eggs, I'd be interested in becoming a foster mom for them.

Cathy

The eggs arrived today. Thanks! I can see the little caterpillar heads--hatching must be getting close!

My eggs started hatching yesterday, and it looks like they've all hatched now. They're eating away on the sweetgum - 'hope everything is going as well for y'all!
Sherry

My eggs started hatching this morning. I have fresh young pecan leaves for them. Will see how they take to pecan. ( Bill Oehlke recommended for here).

Did you get eggs I sent? I'm sure they will have hatched before you get them.

Sandy

Nothing on my end yet! I'm hoping in the morning. How warm have you two been keeping the eggs? Thanks,
Mark

Mine have been on my porch in all the heat and humidity, Mark - if you're keeping yours inside in air-conditioning, it will take them considerably longer to hatch.
Sandy, the eggs arrived as cats - no dead ones - and I put the leaf on my milkweed. They all moved onto the fresh food. It's funny how they spread out all over the plants. I got this picture of one of them - can you find him/her?

{{gwi:481801}}

Sherry

Mark,

My eggs/hatchlings are in my kitchen which is kept at 78 degrees. Before they got here, I am sure they got warm. Our temps are really hot!

I'm trying to figure out what they will eat. Found a source of Sweet Gum about a mile from my house. So they have pecan and sweet gum to choose from.

I'm sure yours will hatch soon.

Sandy

Thanks Sherry & Sandy. I did keep them inside for the first day and after reading Bill's info sheet I put them outside. We have been in the 90's all week but I have them where they have been around 85-87. I hope tomorrow morning brings forth new baby cats!!! I'll let you know.
Mark