Raising polyphemus moths

 

This is prince mitch. He's a male staying with us until the weather gets warmer. Will send updates. Polyphemus moths are very easy to raise when it comes to their caterpillar diet. Their host plants includes  oak, maple, birch, and hickory trees. The caterpillar stage can take about 4 to 6 weeks before they transform as a cocoon. Now beware if they transform into cocoons during the beginning of fall like mitch did, they will likely hatch in spring or even in fall. So it's best to keep them in a cold porch, shed, or other cold place for them. After when they hatched as adults, you must release them like I'm supposed to do with mitch. Because they're lifespan is extremely shorter then the luna moth. Like the luna moth, they have no mouth parts so they can't eat at all but their purpose is to mate for life. And the circle of life of the polyphemus moth continues.