Meet America's Biggest Moth

[@D45VR]

For 3 years in a row two of them would be on my outside wall, usually before a cold snap in mid-spring. I would bring them inside for a couple of days until it warmed up again and turned them out. They stayed on a lampshade over a small nightlight. They seemed almost tame. Haven't seen any for last 3 years so I'm glad I got some great photos & videos. I live in northern Colorado.

[@Micanomancy]

My roommate and I are raising Cecropia Moths for her thesis project (she's a bio-chem major)! We got the cocoons a few weeks ago, so we just have to keep them nice a cool until spring! We're super excited we've always wanted to be Moth Moms :,)

[@nicholasroach3394]

Hi if you get this , how cold did you keep the pupae during the winter ? Thanks 🇬🇧

[@hiphipharry]

Thats amazing!

[@deafnoisemarine6294]

I would absolutely love to hold a Cecropia moth in my lifetime, they are such amazing creatures.

[@thatsalotofsodiumcoins1615]

I found a cocoon today it’s in a 2 gallon mason jar with holes in the top I’m keeping outside in the shade as to keep it from overheating and make sure it stays in tune with nature and doesn’t mess with its hatch cycle I will release it after it hatches

[@RyanMartinezUkulelelessons]

It was really windy today and I found one pinned against a tractor. they don't like to be picked up lol, had a panic attack trying not to hurt the thing

[@TaylerJoe]

Come to North Carolina!

[@michaelveis3294]

They're very beautiful.

[@SpencerShirey1998]

They truly are. I’ve held several of them. Atlas moths are cool too

[@SapphireLove101]

I have been wanting to see a Cecropia Moth for years and have only just seen them this year. Both times they were attached to a screen door either at my place or a friend's. They are amazing little critters!!

[@mandypoo82]

I work in a childcare center and everyone knows I love bugs, especially moths. Last week I got a call in the staff lounge from one of our teachers to come to her room. One of these moths was outside the window, just hanging out. It had looked injured so I went to take a look at it, and it took a few minutes before it would start to move. It crawled all over me, until it decided to take off. When I turned back around, I saw her eggs on the window sill. I took 5 out of seven of them home. I’m waiting on them to hatch now. I’m on day 5. Waiting for 5 more days, then I know they will hatch.

[@steelbender4463]

Did they hatch?

[@finlandball1939]

Had one land on me early spring 2020. I felt sooooo special that day ☺️

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

It is a pretty cool feeling!

[@colleenuchiyama4916]

I have cecropias in my yard and I’ve spun their silk. The silk was a beautiful dark gold.

[@gabescoffield]

One of these has been chilling on the outside of my window for the past 2 days

[@okamiame4064]

I just learned about this moth today and now I love moths?? Cecropias just so cool.

[@janinipizzicato]

At 2:05 the pupa actually moved. Didn't know they could do that 😮

[@bmell1252]

Many times when you “tickle” them, they will wiggle.... and that’s almost any butterfly cocoon. I’ve never seen a monarch cocoon move though. I thought you might like to know.😊😁🤗

[@thatsalotofsodiumcoins1615]

Won’t the pupae die if he took it out of the cocoon

[@cebotarstela7589]

Yes I did

[@johnschuster4101]

@@thatsalotofsodiumcoins1615 If it is kept the right temperature and humidity it might be OK, but its more at risk without its protective layers.

[@dylancoombes3116]

That’s a lot of Sodium coins no cus the cocoon is just to protect the pupae

[@BugsHaveProtein]

Such a beautiful little chonky critter. Is their silk usable for weaving?

[@findmethrifty8396]

Just came across an injured one this morning. All the years I’ve lived in NY and I’ve never seen one till today :)

[@staceygianoplos6381]

So what just happened to the cocoon you cut open? Will that moth survive?

[@MischievousMoron]

Stacey Gianoplos it’ll be just fine! It’s sleeping bag was taken off, but it’s still “sleeping.” At least that’s the best metaphor I can think of. The cocoon helps protect it from winter temperatures, and in a green house it doesn’t have to worry about that. Lots of moth species don’t make cocoons, and just pupate (the brown case he took out of the cocoon was the pupae) under a log or leaves. He could even put it back in the cut open cocoon and it probably wouldn’t notice because of the greenhouse temperature.

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

@@MischievousMoron You are completely correct. I had to be a little carefuller afterward, but the moth hatched just fine.

[@sarahbethsstitching9937]

@@thebutterflyfarmer1509 oh good I’m so glad I was worried about that

[@michaelveis3294]

The Cecropia Moth is also called the Robin Moth. Very beautiful.

[@ultimathule2486]

Oh so cute!!! Beautiful

[@moonbugz]

Love these guys, they’re native in my state!

[@ralseithelepidopterist9226]

Mooneeverse Same!

[@Wildfire86872]

A few years ago I was driving a forklift at work one night, and when I went by the large freight door that was opened on one end, one of these fluttered down from the ceiling (high roof building) and landed on my shirt. First time I've ever seen one that wasn't part of an entomology display. It proceeded to deposit a beige colored substance on my shirt, so I took it back outside and found a perch for it. Maybe a year later I came across another one while at work. Been a fan ever since.

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

That's a great story!

[@mylotisk]

these are my favourite moth right now! although i recently found out about plythemus moth, theyre just as gorgeous :)

[@deelaneenn6677]

great vid

[@blubase06]

Ahhh I saw one once! I started freaking out and amazed! They're so cute!

[@edwardcole4623]

ikr

[@incyray9709]

Awesome moths! I hope I get to see one someday c:

[@snakehandler87]

Subscribed!

[@Moonflower_Lasa]

When I was a kid I had some of these from catapillar to moths in an aquarium-- without water...lol

[@siogenewhatmaters4745]

That's great

[@cursetea49]

I found one of these beautiful males on my porch this morning, I'm not sure if they hatched from the cocoon or can they smell females in cocoons? I helped him into a box though(it has openings so he can leave whenever hed like) so he was out of the wind and prying eyes of birds so hopefully he will fly away at night. I hope his wings aren't stick either cuz it looked like the very back part wasnt coming apart..

[@hillbillyartscrafts4367]

Seen one at the gas station and a girl said wow! What a beautiful moth then stomped on it and walked away. I was dumbfounded

[@maryboehm9067]

I have a cocoon on one of my bushes.. can I remove it from the bush and put it in a safe place outdoor and watch it come out of the cocoon? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[@artonmysleevearton5538]

I found your videos amazing, are you going to make any more? I think my kids would like to see more of your videos too. :D

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

Thanks, I really appreciate your encouragement! I am planning to do a lot more content this summer. Hopefully I will have 2 or 3 videos a month for this season.

[@artonmysleevearton5538]

@@thebutterflyfarmer1509 aces, looking forward to seeing them, I have shown the vids to my kids and they found them really good. my little boy loves it in the garden, he has a thing for collecting caterpillars, I have had to explain to him that they have to go back out on the same plant they come from. he thinks they can live in our house with us. my wife isn't happy with that option :D thanks for replying back :D

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

@@artonmysleevearton5538 That's awesome! I love to see kids enjoying the outdoors like I do. I hope you all enjoy the videos on the way!!

[@michaelveis3294]

Could you do a video on the Luna Moth?

[@angelawebb6987]

We used to see these yearly when I lived in Tyler. Wonder now why I never see them now

[@juliegoyette9238]

Oh no! I would have like to hear you on their jet stream or the white liquid they expulse. Is it feces or defense mechanism that is toxic to skin? I had one this weekend at a friend's cottage and took great shots. 👍such a treat.

[@IAmLiterallyMahito]

Where can I find these? Edit: I also have a suggestion. Maybe you could show the Spanish Moon Moth?

[@pepethelastsamurai3480]

In the garde-oh wait

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

They not east to find in the wild. Your best bet is to setup a black light.

[@boombub]

Are they found on oahu?

[@kevinwade4443]

Had one last night around the light outside we also have lunar moths out

[@obsidianshadowmoon997]

me and a few friends once saved a cecropia moth from drowning in a ditch behind a school we had named him timothy

[@polardisbach9490]

Where is it in America But great video

[@ophiolatrix]

I did enjoy hearing you talk about them! I'd love to raise some myself, but I live in upstate ny and am terrified of a sudden cold snap killing them

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

Don't worry about that. They native well up into Canada and can handle subfreezing temps pretty well.

[@ophiolatrix]

@@thebutterflyfarmer1509 Thank you for telling me this!

[@matthewwagner47]

Had one of these moth fly inyo my house years ago. Thougt it was a bird lol. It was the largest moth I have ever seen and truely was massive.

[@jessicawidmeier2862]

I just found one injured, it's wing is torn badly, so I'm just making it comfortable until it passes.

[@liamng6759]

I saw one of these in a forest when I was like 6, and I remember eating it-

[@annemchurchwell]

I have one sitting one my back door right now and pictures to prove it!

[@bigmouthbassham5281]

I have a cocoon, could I send you a picture?

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

Sorry for the late reply, but please feel free to share a picture anytime!

[@MRSludgedude]

Regals dwarf cecropia in size. They just hold wings different.

[@supa991]

Imagine building your superior shelter to survive evolving and a guy comes and cut it open.

[@lamancha7066]

We get them every year, we get one or two and that is it.

[@sarahbethsstitching9937]

Taking the pups out of the cocoon didn’t hurt the moth did it? Did you do something to protect it. It would be a shame to let it die just to show us

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

They hatch just fine without the cocoons, but you do have to be a lot more careful with the pupa.

[@cebotarstela7589]

I just want to let you know that I love 💕 moths

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

Me too!!

[@bcmorris4364]

Love these moths but I can't believe you just destroyed one of the cocoons.

[@mattiaferrari8849]

Hi what is the name of the plant that they eating ?

[@shewolf1777]

😊

[@craftynatty7240]

Just found one of these caterpillars in my maple tree, nearly gave me a heart attack it so big. Since the moths lay between 30-100 eggs at a time, what's the chances I have more than 1 caterpillar in my tree?

[@eastcoastfiretrucks1837]

Chances are, there’s actually only a few in your tree. The reason Cecropia moths lay so many eggs in the wild is because the mortality rate in the young is extremely high. Between diseases, predators, etc they have a lot that can kill them. So having so many ensures that at least a couple will make it to adulthood. But even then, statistically speaking only 1 in every 50 caterpillars will make it to a healthy adulthood. In captivity, it’s typically a bit different. Since they don’t have to worry about predators and rarely diseases indoors, way more caterpillars will make it to adulthood. I know you didn’t ask for all this but y’know, knowledge 😅

[@craftynatty7240]

@@eastcoastfiretrucks1837 I am still patiently waiting for it to emerge out of its cocoon, it made it through winter

[@siogenewhatmaters4745]

But are they in utah

[@bobjacobson858]

An excellent video; however, the adults emerge, not hatch.

[@ralseithelepidopterist9226]

I made a video of one! The so floofy :D

[@mmjjn]

I just got one caccoon process building it as we speak

[@Hello123epy4u]

In my country has the 2nd largest moth (atlas moth)

[@martinphilip8998]

I have an atlas moth.

[@asterdisaster3064]

I just found a dead one outside in very good condition I'm going to preserve its body :)

[@macesaenger6455]

did you just kill the one you took out of the cocoon...?

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

Nope, it hatched just fine without the cocoons.

[@juliegoyette9238]

Having had known that, I would have taken it in my hands! 😞

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

Someone gave one of these to me when I was young,it lasted about a week before it died,i think it was a male

[@edenmarie4209]

What will happen to the moth you cut out of the cocoon? Did you kill it for the video?

[@pattikelly8921]

They are wonderful! But you killed one just to look inside??? 😒

[@dewbow134]

It didn't get killed, the moths can still emerge fine without their cocoons.

[@campbellalbertina]

How is no one scared?

[@pageturner2958]

*have I been pronouncing it wrong this whole time*

[@frankborg7871]

Why would you cut open the cocoon just for a 5 second display of the pupa. What a responsible custodian you are!!!!! That was sarcasm, in case you missed it!!!