InsectNet forum

One of my splendens larva, hatched on July 19, they've been outdoors on sweet gum since then.
A lot of shades of brown. Still a few weeks to go most likely, our cooler coastal weather slows down
everything I raise outdoors.
Interesting larva, the only Saturniidae larva I've raised that exude a liquid when I try to move them.

Awesome. I've lost interest in raising moths though Citheronia remains a temptation. Great photo.

For those un-familiar with this gorgeous Regal
moth species of our western states I offer a photo
of a fine (female) example which typically comes
in at about 6 inches wing expanse.



This species seems to be one of the usual (larger)
suspects found at the lights of those who travel to
parts of Arizona during the monsoon season...

Really wonderful moth & caterpillar

If you look closely at this photo, taken at Pena Blanca in southeast Arizona, you can see numerous C. splendens (as well as E. oslari, the yellow moths).

58chevy wrote: Wed Aug 30, 2023 3:50 pm If you look closely at this photo, taken at Pena Blanca in southeast Arizona, you can see numerous C. splendens (as well as E. oslari, the yellow moths)...

That's certainly a MUCH larger assemblage of moths than what I saw at Pena Blanca when I visited in 2015! Perhaps I arrived a bit too late in the season (early-to-mid Aug).

Can you tell us 58chevy what year your photograph dates from and perhaps the approximate time of year ?

That is an amazing sheet-full and it looks to me like somebody had their "fill" of the big moths since there are so many hanging about the sheet !

That's how the light sheets looked during my Ecuador expedition in 1988. I've never seen a sheet look quite like that from the eastern half of the US. Although, I suppose it's quite possible in Florida if you're in the right place and right time. Tennessee is also another state that comes to mind for good lighting like this but, again it's all about the place you're at and if the right conditions present themselves.

The moth sheet photo was taken July 18, 2000. I've been to SE AZ on 3 occasions (latest 2019) and my sheets typically looked like this. Timing is very important. Usually the best time is about 2 weeks after the monsoon rains begin in late July. Keep in touch with locals before you go.

The benchmark for a “good” night is 10/20. This means 10 species of Saturniids and 20 species of Sphingids. I haven’t had a night like that in 7-8 years. Overall moth numbers tend to be dwindling. With that said, I’ve collected or reared all the SE AZ Saturniids and most of the Sphingids.

Nice larva pic, I think it’s 3rd instar, or possibly 4th.

4rth instar most likely, I just moved 5 of the 16 larva indoors, to help move things along, it'll be raining again one of these days.