We raised some on pine this year also. They do fine on it, just don't attain the sizes we get from other foodplants. That is pretty well documented in literature also, e.g.,: "Larvae in the 1989 follow-up growth experiments, conducted under modified conditions where foliar water was more rigorously ensured, consistently gained biomass and molted earlier when fed post oak than when fed pitch pine, unambiguously demonstrating enhanced performance of E. imperialis on wild Q. stellata relative to wild P. rigida based on larval growth and pupal weight (Fig. 6; Tables 4, 5), again with significant differences attributable both to food plant and to maternity in each of the host plant treatments (Table 6; Figs. 7, 8)." Life history of the Imperial Moth Eacles imperialis (Drury) (Saturniidae: Ceratocampinae) in New England, U.S.A.: distribution, decline, and nutritional ecology of a relictual islandic population ------------ Congrats on the good brood results, they are an awesome species. Good luck finishing them out.

Sherry, the Polyphemus spins a white cocoon. Unlike the Luna, the Poly cocoon is quite dense. They spin a LOT of silk! Their cocoons look like tiny surgical casts. In fact, it is because of this, that the Poly's first cousin, native to China, Antheraea pernyi, was and may still be used for silk, just as the Bombyx is. The Cynthia moth is also used for silk. At one time, Cynthias were common in NE US, but have largely died off, chiefly due to habitat loss as well as parasitoids such as the tachinid fly. Susanlynne, one sureshot way to tell male from female Luna, at a glance, is color. The females are that characteristic green, while males are yellow-green. I could tell from my upstairs bedroom window, the Luna I saw, resting on a young hickory, was most definitely a male. No way could I see its body size or antennae. I hope this helps.

Yes, I put chrysalides and moth cocoons/pupae outside in winter so that, assuming temperatures influences emergence time, they'll emerge at the right time. I don't use much heat in winter, but my house is still warmer inside than outside, usually. Up north, I imagine it's much warmer inside than out. Of course, you'll need to put the container in a safe place where mice and/or other critters can't get to it. I notice that there's a black area on the caterpillar, also there's brown liquid around it. I'm hoping that the brown liquid is the purging the cat did before going to pupate and not a leak. If the caterpillar is leaking fluid from its body, it'll die. Good luck, let's hope everything's okay! Sherry

I got this in the beginning of May. What I thought was spider strings was actually the larvae of the gypsy moth. My rash and itch were so bad I was put on Prednisone and Benadryl to counter act it. It's been 27 days and it is just now starting to go away. At first I thought it might be poison ivy or one of the others but the rash did not leak like it usually did when I got it. After 3 days of sleeplessness I finally went to the doctors and was put on medication.