Pachypasa otus

 

 

Distribution:

southern Europe (from South Italy east to Turkey) and the Middle East (from Turkey to Iran and west to Egypt)

Wingspan:

large, around ten centimeter (very large females up to 12 cm)

Season:

Moths are on the wing in between June and October in one flight. The caterpillars overwinter

Food plants:

Cupressus, Juniperus, Pinus

Rearing:

Slow and not easy. Eggs hatch late summer to early autumn. Caterpillars overwinter, but do not go completely dormant and keep feeding at a slow pace.    While overwintering keep in a cool but frost free room (around 10°C). Bring at room temperature in March, from then it will still take 3 to 4 months before they pupate. The pupal stage is approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Best kept in netted cages as they totally resent all moist. Never give wet branches.

Difficulties:

slow and needs to be kept dry