Wild males

Mr.kaiser

Hello everyone,
I live in Ontario, Canada and have just had some female moths emerge. One is Actias luna and the other is callosamia promethea. I put them outside to attract some wild males to pair with but nothing has come for a few days. I am quite confused as a few years ago I had a female cecropia and around 10 males came in one night and were still there in the morning. If anyone has any info on this or something else that could clear things up it would be greatly appreciated. I know that it is not timing as the species are native and were outside as cocoons and I know that it is not location as I found a wild luna moth very close to my house.

luna moth

Hello,

I also plan to do this with a Promethea Moth.
I think it might be to early because I have my most luck in Mid-late June.
Also some years there are just fewer moths.

Rudi

Hi,

I have acquaintances in Nova Scotia and know from their report that winter has dragged on for a very long time and that it only warmed up slowly.
For this reason, the animals may not yet be flying outdoors.

Regards
Rudi

Mr.kaiser

Sorry for the late reply, but all of my moths were outside for winter and spring so that they would have the same emergence as the wild ones. On top of that my wild male cecropia emerged as well so I dont think timing is a problem.

Mr.kaiser

Also, will male moths stay by the females until morning even when separated by a mesh, and do female moths lay Infertile eggs if they dont mate after a few days?

Rudi

The males can fly away at any time after mating and that the females start laying unfertilized after a few days is quite normal for many species.

Mr.kaiser

Ok, so i guess my promethea eggs are unfertilized but they still have the brown spot on them that fertilized eggs have.

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