Cecropia host plant

[eurytides]

Hi all. Anyone know if cecropia larvae will accept spicebush (Lindera benzoin)? Searched the internet with no help. I know cecropia larvae can feed on sassafras. So I am wondering if they accept other Lauraceae like spicebush.

[Chuck]

I don’t know. ? But I thought Spicebush was uncommon in Canada.

[Paul K]

How about Lilac ? It is common in Ontario and they do well on that.

[kevinkk]

I'd give anything a try with cecropia, I've raised them on peach, they did mature, albeit a bit small, and only one made the classic "double bag"
cocoon, but it did produce an adult.

[eurytides]

Spicebush is uncommon, but I have it in my yard. I also have a bunch of pawpaw and pipevine. A man can dream haha.

I have raised cecropias on lilac before and they did well. However, I had to get lilac from elsewhere. I have a huge spicebush in my yard and it would be way more convenient if that was accepted. I could just wait and see what happens, but I like to be prepared.

[eurytides]

Kevin, where abouts do you live? Does cecropia occur in your area?

[kevinkk]

Kevin, where abouts do you live? Does cecropia occur in your area?

I live on the Oregon coast, what I'd call central coast, in Lincoln City, it's about 90 miles west of Portland.
No cecropia here, we have only 5 Saturniidae, at the most, A. polyphemus, Coloradia pandora, Saturnia mendicino,
Hyalophora euryalus, and possibly the kasloensis Hyalophora subspecies, and most of them occur inland from the coast.
I think the Rocky mountains, and our local Cascades have limited species, I was always envious of people living in the east
because of the variety of all insect species, but, it's relative I suppose, the bugs are always better somewhere else.

[eurytides]

Ha, I envy people living in the west! I would love some euryalus or P. multicaudata or P. indra.