Antheraea yamamai 15 Eggs

Antheraea yamamai Japan and Central Europe

A rewarding and easy species to rear in spring. The eggs are stored cool for the winter. Bring them into room temperature when the buds open, and the larvae hatch in a couple of weeks or so. The caterpillar, a close relative of Antheraea pernyi, the Chinese Oak Silkmoth, grows very large. It has a green face and more interestingly, it spins a wonderful  egg-shaped cocoon of BRIGHT GREEN silk.  Very easy to rear on Oak. The larvae sometime take leaves of other trees and shrubs. Hawthorn is a early substitute for Oak. The pupa is spun in summer and does not emerge until well into autumn. Pairings are not difficult – resulting eggs overwinter.

The female moth is often bright canary yellow, with large ringed eye-spots, one in the centre of each wing. Colouring, especially in the male, is rather varied. Both sexes are illustrated with quite different colour forms.