SILKMOTHS
Expected this year. The Moon
moths are again well represented with A.artemis (JAPANESE MOONMOTH) -cocoons in the Autumn- . A.selene (INDIAN MOONMOTH) should be widely available, but this is an unpredictable
species and wild stock can turn up almost anytime. The (TAU EMPEROR) A.tau is an early riser (April) and has magnificient
larvae. The ova look terrible just before hatching, so don't throw
them out, they are fertile! (see rearing
notes) The A.suraka
(MADAGASCAN BULLSEYE) AKA 'The Candyfloss'.
is back again this year, as is A.pernyi (CHINESE OAK SILKMOTH).The
ova will be from wild stock which two year's ago produced adults
with a wingspan of over six inches. One of the easiest to rear,
they are ideal for beginners and Schools. Of the 'overwintering
ova' species, A.yamamai (JAPANESE
OAK SILKMOTH) will be in
demand and the two Dictyoploca spp., japonica (CHESTNUT SILKMOTH)
and simla (SIMLA SILKMOTH) are always popular and should be
readily available this year. C.boisduvali is a lovely moth (and
larvae) and deserves to be more popular, being easy to rear and
polyphagous on many trees. Completing the'winter ova' is Rhodinias,
fugax (SQUEAKING SILKMOTH) . Opidipthera eucalypti (GUM MOTH) is one of the larger moths available this year. Cocoons
will be ready early for emergence in the Summer. Easy to pair,
the larvae are particularly attractive.(see rearing notes). G.tyrrhea (ZIG ZAG EMPEROR)
is a beautiful, easy to rear saturniid which, like many African
species needs a bit of help to break it's diapause (see Diapause-Silkmoths). Attacus atlas (ATLAS MOTH)
are currently very good value, and I have them on special offer
from time to time (see current
stock). Rearing notes
are found at rearing
notes would you believe? Samia cynthia is represented this
year by canningi (the biggest), and walkeri (the prettiest?).
Finally, Saturnia pyri (GREAT
PEACOCK MOTH) cocoons from two distant
locations should ensure a good supply of ova, and maybe, just
maybe, there could be a few cocoons of S.pavonia/meridionalis
x pyri (daubi) around at the end of the season.
SILKMOTH PICTURE REVIEW
Antheraea frithii
The adult has many colour
forms; in particular the males show a great deal of variation
and although not as large as some members of the Antheraea family,
it is certainly one of the more colourful. The larva, too, is
interesting. It's overall shape is typical of the genus, but how
about those blue shoes? The ova looks remarkably like a dirty
chicken's egg when magnified to this degree.
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