Wednesday 20 April 2016

Joined the Emperor Club at last!

My first two Emperor Moths (from 60+ cocoons) emerged this afternoon, both of them female.  They were placed out in the garden in a net cage at 3.40pm and within five minutes there were two males charging around them.  One of the males was allowed to pair up with a female and she should provide eggs overnight tonight, the other female I'll try some 'assembling' with tomorrow.

Emperor Moth, Westcott 20th April

This is quite a late first emergence but not the latest I've had.  A look back over the last ten years gives the following dates, all from pupae raised at home:
 
2007:
9th April
2012:
13th April
2008:
18th April
2013:
29th April
2009:
10th April
2014:
7th April
2010:
17th April
2015:
17th April
2011:
7th April
2016:
20th April
 
Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks
 

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3 comments:

  1. Marc Botham20 April 2016 at 21:36

    I didn't get many larvae through last year and struggle more and more each year to keep them going so thought I'd buy the new pheremone lure. Tried it half a dozen or more times so far and had absolutely no joy yet.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Robert Payne21 April 2016 at 13:51

    I have been trying the lure as well at Black Park and Stoke Common the last few days without success.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Martin Wainwright22 April 2016 at 19:54

    No one deserves it more, Dave. I will pass on the news to my Emp Moth caterpillars in the way that people used to 'tell the bees' about important family news

    ReplyDelete

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