Large-Scale Rearing of Cecropia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Methods are described for the annual production of 10–15 thousand cocoons of the cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia</it> (L). In the field, 16×l6×8-ft. knockdown-type cages were used for rearing about 300 larvae each to maturity. The cages were placed over compact blocks of 3 to 4-year-old apple, sweet cherry, or sour cherry trees, or over naturally occurring wild host. The wild black cherry, Primus scrotina</it> L., was the host used locally for the wild host. In the laboratory, 7½×30·48-in. screen-topped trays were employed for rearing about 125 larvae in each to maturity. Wild black cherry foliage was used for food. A 79.2% hatch of eggs was obtained by placing mated female adults individually in paper bags for oviposition. Although some females lived and produced eggs for clays, with daily transfers to new bags, the longevity of most individuals under these conditions was only 4-5 days. A 16-hr daily photoperiod during larval development induced almost 100% pupal diapause. The above procedures produced 5,000 pupae in the field and 10,000 pupae in the laboratory in 1966. Although losses from insect parasitism and diseases were negligible in rearings conducted from 1962 to 1966, disease losse became serious in 1967 cultures.