Cecropria Moth Project

On February 2, Oliver found this moth clinging to the side of a building at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. He brought it home because he thought I would like it (I did). We identified it as a Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia), North America's largest moth. This particular species has an adult lifespan of 7-10 days. Flying only to mate and lay eggs, it does not even have a mouth.

Oliver placed the moth in a plastic container for transport. These moths release eggs when they are about to die, and we found a number of eggs stuck to the sides and bottom of the container when Oliver returned home. The moth died about an hour later.

We kept the eggs in a tightly sealed container punctured with air holes, and they sat unattended in a shady corner of our house for sixteen days before hatching on February 18.

Cecropia eggs