How to hatch a polyphemus moth?

Question

My son found a polyphemus caterpillar today. It looks full grown and ready to spin into a cocoon.

Will it hang, burrow, or roll up into a leaf? What materials will I need to hatch it sucessfully?

Answer 1

Although it looks full grown, it may not be ready to pupate yet and still may need to feed. Set up a 10 gal. aquarium on its' side and place a water filled cup with small holes punched in the top for hostplant cuttings. Keep a screen cover on the aquarium.  

Some of the plants that Polyphemus caterpillars will eat include:

Betula, (Birch)

Salix, (Willow)

Quercus, (Oak)

Acer, (Maple)

Carya, (Hickory)

Fagus, (Beech)

Gleditsia triacanthos, (Honey locust)

Juglans, (Walnut)

Pyrus, (Peach)

Prunus, (Genus of some fruit trees)

Sassafras

Citrus, (Orange, Grapefruits, Lemons, Limes, etc)

Ulmus americana, (American Elm)

Change out the cuttings every 3 days or so until the caterpillar starts slowing down on its' consumption. When it is ready to pupate, it will use the hostplant leaves to roll up with silk and make a cocoon. The cocoon should be placed outside in a thick bush or other heavy plant to protect it from the extreme cold. It will overwinter as a cocoon and next Spring emerge as an adult. If you keep the cocoon in the house at warm temps. it will emerge much too soon and be unable to breed as the other moths will still be overwintering.