Silk Moth Mating: Saturnia albofasciata (+hand-pairing)

This short documentary, shot in Santa Clarita and Juniper Hills, CA during, 2007, shows how the rare and difficult to rear White-Streaked Silkmoths (Saturnia albofasciata) can be mated in captivity, both hand-paired and un-assisted.

In order to study and document this (and other species) in great detail, multiple generations must be reared in the lab/studio over the course of several years.

Many Saturniidae species manage to mate easily in captivity, but albofasciata in particular has difficulty in an indoor environment, and so hand pairing usually becomes necessary to ensure a new batch of fertile eggs for the next season.

Be sure and see the full life cycle video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIhlj3ZMxqg




...and for more detailed life history, visit my Saturnia albofasciata documentary website here: http://lepidoptera.jcmdi.com/m/Sat/albofasciata/albofasciatap.html

The music is "Jolly People" from the Technician CD "Digital Dreaming", available at http://technician.jcmdi.com/#digital

Much more Lepidoptera and nature photography, video and documentary at JCMDI.COM

Enjoy!

Category:

Science & Technology

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[AxialTangent]

Why doesn't that harm the dust coating on the wings? Is that not present where they are being held?

[jcmegabyte]

Interestingly, the powder (which is actually small colored scales) on the wings is not needed for butterflies and moths to fly. It does not hurt them when it comes off, and in fact you can completely remove it all from their wings and they can still fly just fine. The wings are almost completely clear when the scales are removed, and may even be nearly invisible and harder for predators to see! :-)

[smoosh3527]

This is weird....O.o

[jcmegabyte]

What we wildlife photographers won't go through to document nature! XD Thanks for checking it out!

[IVIUFFINM4N]

mmm yea baby there's something about moths that just makes me randy!

[jcmegabyte]

It must work for more people than just Austin Powers - this is by far my most popular video! XD

[Penfold8]

A moth pimp! LOL Does that make you a mimp!

[jcmegabyte]

That's totally untrue - you can remove ALL of the scales from a moth's wings and it can still fly just fine. Unless you're dripping with oil, there's nothing on your skin that can hurt them. I've worked with these moths for over 6 years now - never a problem. The same is true for ALL Lepdoptera (butterflies and moths). Urban legends like that were probably started by parents making them up so their kids will leave the bugs alone.

[startwarskidfan2]

@karabear2396 the time in-between death and body recovery indicates that the body would have fully decomposed, and there technology of that time would make it impossible to know if it we a boy or girl, let alone if it were a single person. i understand these are fun, but come on now, think logically. and i have military training, so if that ghost even attempts it.... KA-Bar the shit out of it.

[jcmegabyte]

It would be easy to run a moth dating service for THESE critters... Both sexes will take the first partner that comes along, no questions asked! XD

[TheAspiringOne]

Who needs eHarmony or that other stuff when you got this guy? :D

[jcmegabyte]

Thanks for checking it out =)