Madagascan Moon Moth Argema mittrei
Huge netted cocoons of silvery silk – THE biggest cocoon in the world!
Both male and female moths are tailed but those of the male are very extreme. They are a joy to hatch out!
They need daily spraying and a temperature of 25-30 degrees C. Pairing of the adults is notoriously difficult but if successful, the larvae are not difficult to rear on Eucalyptus, Liquidambar or Stags Horn Sumach Rhus typhinus. Hand-pairing has been reported to be successful but we have not tried it.
Mittrei is found only on the island of Madagascar and is quite one of the word's most exceptional moths.