The pine was placed in a small, plastic storage container only 10" x 6" x 14". The container had a screen cover and a screen back side for ventilation.

The container was kept outside until June temperatures got very warm (close to 100 F). Cocoons, spun in June, hatched five to six weeks after spin-up.

Subsequent "pairing was done with an all screen cage about 14" X 14" X 28" kept outside, with no special care!"

The pairing took place around the first week of August with temperatures in the 80's.

Dan is still feeding (December 10) this current batch, and "they are starting to spin, but some are noticably smaller, nearly half the size of the original batch. All have been kept inside, but in a basement where temperature is around 60-65."

I suspect the smaller size and long feeding period for this second batch of larvae is due to the much cooler temperatures in the basement.

Many thanks to Dan for sharing his experience with this species. We can all learn from each others' experiences, and I invite others to share experiences, especially with the less commonly reared species.

Now I know that this species is at least double-brooded. Hopefully Dan will get some of these cocoons to hatch in the spring.

Send writeups, please, to Bill Oehlke