Epiphora lugardi cocoons and hostplants

I have 10 lugardi cocoons I have had since Dec. of '23. I kept them in an unheated room around 70f, and dry.

About 3 weeks ago I moved them to a cage I use for high humidity and heat, which I cycle warm and wet conditions,

to attempt to replicate the weather in Kenya, easy to look it up, it's warm and wet this time of year.

Foodplant, I have a book which lists ceanothus as a foodplant. I think African flora is going to be difficult to locate.

I am hoping to see some moths any minute now... I'll post any interesting developments.

You might try artificial diet, I have diet I bought at Amazon for Hyles lineata, which they ate, but it is a labor intensive

endeavor, constant cleaning is the drawback.

Well.

Something interesting has in fact happened.

I am waiting for the batteries to recharge, and will post a photo, as well as try

an image search.

A mystery moth appeared. Not a Saturniidae. Looks like a big Noctuid, with it's wings folded over the back.

All the cocoons look the same, with minor differences in color.

Yes. Matthew Simmonds was the seller.

The only difference in appearance of the cocoons is the mystery animal came from a darker

cocoon, with that being the only difference.

I emailed Matthew to see if anyone else has had anything similar happen, but, clearly without a photo, it's just guesswork.

the emerged mystery moth its probably Dollmania purpurascens Lasiocampidae.

I also have cocoons from M.Simmonds but still sleeping. All cocoons looks the same.

Today, at longlast, the first female of Epiphora lugardi hatched. A very beautiful moth indeed. Now I hope the rest will emerge soon.

Very, very beautiful. I have only 1 or 2 still alive I think (they are heavy; the others have almost certainly died).

Quote from Thomas Maag

Today, at longlast, the first female of Epiphora lugardi hatched. A very beautiful moth indeed. Now I hope the rest will emerge soon.

Nice that someone had a hatching. My cocoons are still unhatched, soon I will probably open one and see what goes on.

It's pretty clear that the hatching issue with some of the exotics is why you aren't seeing ova offered as often as the diapaused material.

Not for lack of trying, but apparently I am not trying the correct thing. The wall heater and humidifier I have in the cage not doing much

good at all.

Well, what a difference a day or so can make.

I'll get a picture later and try to get it posted, but- I have a Epiphora lugardi adult having hatched over night.

It's still getting light here, and I don't see a reason to rush upsetting the cage, it remains unsexed as of yet.

In any event, after over a year, and with a renewed hope from Thomas's post, I gave the cocoons some more moisture and heat yesterday,

and presto!

The moth is a female. I can see that she is calling, perhaps an interesting coincidence that the moth Thomas had hatch is female

as well, I believe it's males that are supposed to hatch first. It does create some possibilities however. Specimens are my primary

goal, and breeding secondary, only because breeding is not a given, and waiting for a second moth can be a mistake sometimes.

A new development. It's something I have noticed before with extended stay in the cocoon animals. They are in a hurry

apparently, and begin to lay ova almost immediately. My female laid a few ova, which, in my experience means zero chance of

mating, even if I had a male, now maybe it's possible to hand pair such females, but I don't know. I'm not lumping in the

species which can overwinter more than once, that's a different thing.

This issue, could be worthy of it's own post, I would suppose this has happened to other individuals and would be

interested in any comments. So, the only positive, if one could call it that, is that I will have an undamaged specimen.