It has been a slow start to the season as of this writing. It seemed that hatching moths have been delayed quite a bit than in past years. For example, in 2023 I had wild luna moths coming to my lights in mid-May. This year, the first one appeared late on June 2. This is also with the addition of my overwintering cocoons and scenting females.

I know the luna moths I raised last season are on the same schedule of local populations as I raised and stored them outdoors. In my experience, males tend to hatch out so that they are ready and available for when the females hatch out. As of June 2, I had six male and two female luna moths hatch out. I separated the sexes to make sure that they would not mate, as they were from the same parents. The male I found on June 2 was at the lights and not attracted to the two females at all. Were they not scenting? I captured the male and put him in with the females, but nothing happened.

Promethea moths have proven once again to be the most common moth in the area. This is based on two things. First off, I was able to find well over 100 cocoons over the winter just by driving up and down the local roads. Second, when the females hatch, there is no shortage of males that are drawn in during the late afternoon. Like clockwork every day, they start to show up at 4 PM. In fact, on the afternoon of June 2, I had at least two dozen males that were attracted to the one female that I had on my screened-in porch. Such an amazing sight!

As of this writing, I have not had any of my polyphemus cocoons hatch out. Like the other species they were raised and stored outdoors. They should start hatching soon though as I did have a wild male come into my moth lights on Saturday, June 1. None of my cecropia cocoons have started hatching either, which is late for them. These were all found in the wild.

More updates to follow!