Hyalophora columbia

by Darell Gulin and Bill Oehlke

Hyalophora columbia male, from Prince Edward Island,
December eclosion, courtesy/copyright Darrell Gulin.

Hyalophora columbia male in typical resting pose,
from Prince Edward Island, courtesy/copyright Darrell Gulin.

Haylophora columbia female, from Montague, Prince Edward Island,
courtesy/copyright Darrell Gulin.

I (Bill Oehlke) sent cocoons to Darell in October of 2005. He wished to have them eclose early for photographic purposes. I was surprised that the columbia began emerging in December as all the Hyalophora are normally univoltine.

Darrell writes, "Concerning how the Columbia eclosed. I did not really chill them upon receipt. They were in my garage for about a week before I got them out to attempt to have them eclose. The temperature in the garage was about 40-45 degrees F.

"I keep them in large plastic tubs in a spare room with a temperature averaging 78 degrees. Also I gave them light for about fifteen hours each day. All five of the Columbia eclosed. The first one took just under five weeks and over the next two weeks the other four eclosed. Humidity was in the 50% range.

Hyalophora columbia male, January, courtesy/copyright Darrell Gulin.

"Since then I have also had eclose one of four Cecropia, four of five Polyphemus, two of five Promethea and four of four Calosaturnia walterorum.

"I don't know if this helps or not. If I was not traveling so much I would have kept them chilled in dispause for several months before trying to have them eclose early."

Darrell also indicates he used both infrared and incandescent lights for extra light and warmth. Tubs were big, fifty to sixty gallon size, and he misted cocoons to maintain humidity.

I suspect that the increased hours of light, appropriate humidity and added warmth triggered the development and eclosions.

Several years ago I had at least two reputable sources tell me that they had, once or twice in their lifetimes, seen H. cecropia attempt to produce a second brood in one season. I suspect that the harvested cocoons may have sat in a box in a closet (dark) and then were brought out for examination and left, box open, in a room that typically had lights on from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm.

Darrell's notes offer some interesting possibilities.

Hyalophora columbia female, January eclosion, courtesy of Darrell Gulin.

These Hyalophora columbia cocoons were from different broods reared by me during the summer of 2005. Most cocoons were harvested in late August through early September and then brought indoors to sit in open boxes at an average temperature in high 60's F.

Cocoons were then boxed and shipped in bulk to 1) (early October) southern New Hampshire where they remained in a closed box in an unheated barn (some cool night) or to 2) upstate New York (late September) where they remained in a closed box in a dark basement probably at temp of high 60's to low 70's.

I do not believe any of the cocoons experienced freezing temperatures prior to their December-January eclosions as described by Darrell.

Darrell also sent me some large (12" x 18" approximate) prints of his photos. The prints are beautiful!

Hyalophora columbia print, courtesy of Darrell Gulin.

I had always thought that cecropia, columbia and the other Hyalophora species had eclosions governed by some sort of internal clock. Hyalophora eruyalus from southern California sometimes fly in January as a single brood, despite lots of time to produce a second brood. Hyalophora cecropia in the southeastern United States (Florida) fly from February until April, always as a single brood.

Perhaps a light induced diapause is required, triggered by a diminishing photo period. Otherwise one would expect the moths to continue brooding in warmer locales.

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