Moth Man

Moth Man.

For the past 10 years I have been raising Cecropia moths. It started with a favor for Phil Pellitteri (UW - Extension Entomologist) who asked me to 'baby sit' a larvae while he went out of town. Since then I have been fascinated with these elegant and beautiful creatures, how easy and fun it is to raise them, and how important it is to keep them from extinction. <read more >

FYI: Gypsy Moth Spray Notice for Dane County, Wisconsin 2011

The gypsy moth population is down statewide and in Dane County. However, there are still certain locations within the County that have similar or higher populations than last year. The gypsy moth can be a serious tree pest. In large populations, gypsy moths can defoliate trees and kill those that are already under stress. In addition, some people experience allergic reactions caused by contact with gypsy moth egg cases or caterpillars. The Gypsy Moth Suppression Program is intended to help reduce these effects. In mid-May to early June, a small low-flying airplane will apply Foray®, a bacterial insecticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk). Btk is a naturally occurring strain of soil bacteria that produces proteins that interact with bacteria in the digestive tracts of gypsy moth caterpillars to cause 90-95% mortality. Commonly used by organic gardeners to control pests, Btk has no apparent toxicity to people, animals, or insects other than caterpillars

For 2011, there are 15 proposed treatment blocks, covering approximately 917acres within Dane County. In comparison in 2010 there were 45 treatment blocks covering 2,954 acres within the county. The 2011 treatment blocks include 12 sites in the City of Madison, one in the City of Monona and two in the Town of Middleton. An overview map and details about each treatment block can be found below. Treatment Block (Spray Block) maps will also be available for viewing on the Dane County web site http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/gypsy_moth.aspx and in early February at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources web site: http://gypsymoth.wi.gov/.

• 2011 Season: I can tell everytime the Wisconsin Gardner episode aires because I get an influx of emails requesting moths. This is great and I am trying hard to fill all 'orders'.

• 2011 highlights:

  • Cool spring but still seems moths began emerging early (both Cecropia and Promethia moths.)
  • First Cecropias (two males) emerged June 2d and third. Released both because I didn't yet have a female.
  • First Promethia emerged on June 5th. Male arived from the wild at dinner time on June 7th.
  • Two Cecropia females emerged during cold and rainy period after I'd already released the early males. No males were drawn in and the female's eventually died.
  • My last two Cecropia to emerge were male and female. On June 30th another male was drawn in from the wild and one of the males mated with female. I had bagged all three so that this time she wouldn't escape before laying me some eggs. She laid over a hundred and I let all three moths go.
  
  

  2010 Season: Getting some good feedback, and questions, from this web site. THANKS!

• 2010 highlights:

  • Very warm spring with relatively early emergence of Cecropia and Prometheus moths.
  • My only female Cecropia 'flew the coop' before I could get any eggs. Will this be the first year I don't raise Cecropia?
  • Saved by a friend, I have Cecropia AND Promethea eggs once again.
  • Promethia eggs laid on 16 June AND a female prometheus moth who emerged on 1 July attracted 3 male moths from the wild. Evidence that they don't all come out at the same time(?).
  
  
  

  2009 Season: hard to believe I've been doing this for 10 years....

• 2009 highlights:

  • Cool spring with relatively late emergence of Cecropia and Prometheus moths.
  • Segment on WPT's Wisconsin Gardner with Shelley Ryan to be aired 23 July 2009 at 7:30 PM on Wisconsin Public Television. "... strikingly beautiful and cause no harm to the garden." (Shelly's referring to the moth larvae - not me.)
  • First year I've had a Prometheus moth mate and lay eggs (complete full life cycle).
  • Oh, the humanity!!! (moth-anity?). Larvae population decimated by (???)



• Click here to view 'early years' web site (1999 through 2002)

Resources:

Contact me at email link at bottom of page if you have questions, need eggs, or would just like to chat about raising moths.

• UW Entomology Insect Diagnostics Lab. Phil Pellitteri.
• Quick 'pocket' guide to raising Cecropia - Dr. Paul William's describes how to apply Bottle Biology techniques to raise moths.
• "When Biologic Control Gets Out of Control" - NY Times article.
• "The Wild Silk Moths of North America" - Book about this moth family (Saturniidae)

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