Out chasing butterflies March 22 - 31. Orders placed during this time will begin processing on April 1.

Ceanothus Silkmoth EGGS -- LIVE Moth eggs
Ceanothus Silkmoth EGGS -- LIVE Moth eggs
Ceanothus Silkmoth EGGS -- LIVE Moth eggs
Ceanothus Silkmoth EGGS -- LIVE Moth eggs
Ceanothus Silkmoth EGGS -- LIVE Moth eggs

Ceanothus Silkmoth EGGS -- LIVE Moth eggs

Regular price $15.00 Sale

Ceanothus Silkmoth Eggs -- Hyalophora euryalus

***This is a pre-order for Spring 2024 shipping. 

*** We work to time shipments of this species to start around middle to late May, then ship in the sequence that orders were received.  Pre-order shipments usually complete by the second week of June.

****SHIPPING to OREGON and WASHINGTON only. Outside of these states please order Polyphemus Silkmoth or White Lined Sphinx eggs instead for a successful checkout.

***If ordering other items (pop-up tents, etc.), those will ship separately and soon after ordering.

Ceanothus is the second largest giant silk moth in the Pacific Northwest (after Polyphemus). The adults are known for their beautiful reddish-brown coloration and the distinctive white "swish" that looks like a certain shoe company logo. They're a west coast species that are truly distinctive and amazing to behold in all phases of their lives. While they're close relatives of the east coast Cecropia silk moth (both are members of the Hyalophora genus), the Euryalus species is only found west of the Rocky Mountains. 

Ceonothus caterpillars get HUGE. While they start out as tiny, dark caterpillars, in later instars they are bright green and develop the distinctive primary-color tubercles of the Hyalophora genus, giving them a distinctive punk rock vibe. Be prepared for the caterpillars to eat a LOT! They need a tremendous amount of mass and energy to metamorphose into giant moths. Not only that, but they won't eat as adults (having only vestigial mouth parts), so they rely on stored body fat for the energy that the males need to find a mate and the females need to produce eggs. 

Rearing Notes: This species has the potential to be relatively challenging if kept in unclean conditions. We recommend low-density rearing and a good supply of fresh food. To prevent disease we recommend airy, outside conditions from the third larval shedding onwards. Using a caterpillar sleeve on live food plants is highly recommended.

General Directions for working with eggs: Raising Caterpillars from Eggs

Item Details:

  • You will receive ten (10) or twenty (20) Ceanothus Silkmoth eggs per order
  • Eggs will hatch about 2 weeks after they are laid by the female.  
  • We guarantee live eggs, and check for egg fertility by keeping some reserve ova.
  • Make sure that your mail arrives in a cool location, or that someone is there to meet them on arrival.  (Eggs can cook in the sun, and we only refund if our reserve eggs don't hatch)
  • Caterpillars will need plenty of pesticide-free leaves to munch on after hatching.  There is a long list of possible hardwood and softwood leaves that they may accept (See list at the bottom), and make sure to have several options available and see which leaves they choose.  Here, we raise them on Chokecherry.
  • If you have additional questions, please email.  We will do our best to reply to questions as time permits.  Please be patient, as we're busy rearing large quantities of hungry caterpillars all season, and sometimes will be out collecting for days at a time too.

Possible hostplants to try:

Maple
Alder
Serviceberry
Manzanita
Birch
Buck/Deer brush
Ceanothus
Snowbrush
Tamarack
Sweetgum
Apple
Spruce
Bittercherry
Wild cherry
Chokecherry -- (We use this every year successfully)
Douglas fir
Bitterbrush
Oak
California coffeeberry
Hollyleaf buckthorn
Cascara
Sumac
Currant
Wild Rose
Willow -- (We use Pussy Willow each year successfully)
Lilac