Promethea Moth Adoptions

Event Summary

We have a small number of promethea moth eggs currently available for adoption.

Eggs can be picked up from the Conservation Education Center in Kent Park on:**

   Wednesday, May 27th after 3pm-10pm

  Thursday, May 28th after 3pm-10pm

This registration closes at 12pm on Tuesday. More info about pick-up will be sent after registration closes.

It is easiest to raise them directly on a tree with a mesh bag tied over the branch like these from raisingbutterflies.org: https://store.raisingbutterflies.org/product-p/sleeveblack10w20l.htm

These eggs will start hatching sometime around May 29th, so you have a little time to figure out your set-up.

Promethea Moth Food (host) plants: wild cherry, tulip tree, magnolia

Avoid disturbing a larva that is not eating or traveling-it may be preparing to molt (takes 1-2 days) – instead, move what it is standing on. When mature, the larva will void its gut and search for a place to spin its cocoon. Eggs laid in May-June will produce some cocoons that will hatch in 2-3 weeks and some that will overwinter. Keep overwintering cocoons in a steel hardware-cloth cage n and unheated building for the winter or refrigerate in airtight container (November-March). In spring, make sure that the emerging adult has places it can climb to so that it can expand its wings. Male moths should be released in late afternoon so they can fly and find a mate. Females can be released at night.

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