Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Forbes Silkmoths again - woohoo!!!, 0 by TexasPuddyPrint

TexasPuddyPrint wrote:
Was turning in for the night around 1030 when I heard something bumping against my bedroom window which faces my backporch. Turned on the yard motion sensor lights and saw a big moth flying around. Took me about two seconds to realize it was a Forbes so I grabbed my flashlight (have those yellow bug lights on my porch so can't see a durn). Saw several moths flitting around banging themselves on the ceiling and against the windows then it dawned on me...a female must have emerged from one of the cocoons in the reptarium (sitting on my patio table). I've had those since December of 2007!!! NICE SURPRISE to find one was viable!

Anyway, long story short...I counted 8 males flying around my backporch and yard. I could even smell the female's scent. It was a very sweet and strong smell. WOW!!! I unzipped one side of the reptarium and several males found their way inside in mere minutes. One quickly mated so I unzipped the other side and shooed the rest out. :o) Within about five minutes the moths that were flying around disappeared and I could no longer smell the female.

Here's a photo of the happy couple :o) I've zipped up the reptarium and they should stay mated for about 24 hours. Will release the male when he's done his duty and will bring in a couple of potted larval host plants I have for the female to hopefully lay her eggs on. Last time I had a female laying eggs on the mesh! Might end up putting her in a paper bag instead...will think about it.

~ Cat