Silkmoths and more: Citheronia laocoon

No matter your level of experience, when you can get your hands on stock of the South American Citheronia laocoon, don't hesitate and buy them. This is one of the easiest species in the Citheronia genus and suitable for everyone, even those who haven't bred any silkmoths before. Like most of the Citheronia species I like to rear them on Prunus serotina, but that is just a matter of availability. Laocoon does well on lots of different plants. You could use Liquidambar, Juglans, Rhus, Malosma, Schinus, Gossypium, Ligustrum, Psidium, Rosa and many more. Keep them in large, well ventilated plastic containers. Especially the later instars need good air movement to avoid diseases. Never give them wet leaves. An average living room temperature is enough to get them to pupate within four weeks from hatching of the eggs. Depending on how long our summer will be, there is a good chance that they will produce another flight later this year.