Graellsia isabellae EGGS
This has to be Europe’s most stunning moth - one of the few Silkmoths native to Europe, the Spanish Moon Moth is incredibly beautiful in all stages, but particularly as an adult with its wings in shades of blue and green. Its range is small, limited to isolated but seemingly relatively healthy populations in the Alps and Pyrenees in France and Spain, and a presumed introduced population also occurs in Switzerland. It is believed that this is an ancient cousin of the classic Actias family of Moon Moths, and that it has declined greatly since the last Ice Age as its cool Pine Forest habitat became far more restricted, limiting isabellae to mountainous regions. Caring for cocoons and moths is not at all difficult, however many breeders struggle to achieve pairings, and those that do often also find rearing caterpillars challenging - they seem to require airy conditions, possibly preferring to be outside exposed to the weather - but with good care it is certainly possible to rear them to adulthood. Cocoons remain dormant over winter, emerging between April and July depending on the population or region.
Difficulty - Cocoons/moths are easy (1/10); breeding and rearing is challenging (7/10)
Host plants - Black Pine & Scots Pine
Conditions - Airy; may do better outdoors
Lifecycle - Single brood; cocoons overwinter
This has to be Europe’s most stunning moth - one of the few Silkmoths native to Europe, the Spanish Moon Moth is incredibly beautiful in all stages, but particularly as an adult with its wings in shades of blue and green. Its range is small, limited to isolated but seemingly relatively healthy populations in the Alps and Pyrenees in France and Spain, and a presumed introduced population also occurs in Switzerland. It is believed that this is an ancient cousin of the classic Actias family of Moon Moths, and that it has declined greatly since the last Ice Age as its cool Pine Forest habitat became far more restricted, limiting isabellae to mountainous regions. Caring for cocoons and moths is not at all difficult, however many breeders struggle to achieve pairings, and those that do often also find rearing caterpillars challenging - they seem to require airy conditions, possibly preferring to be outside exposed to the weather - but with good care it is certainly possible to rear them to adulthood. Cocoons remain dormant over winter, emerging between April and July depending on the population or region.
Difficulty - Cocoons/moths are easy (1/10); breeding and rearing is challenging (7/10)
Host plants - Black Pine & Scots Pine
Conditions - Airy; may do better outdoors
Lifecycle - Single brood; cocoons overwinter
This has to be Europe’s most stunning moth - one of the few Silkmoths native to Europe, the Spanish Moon Moth is incredibly beautiful in all stages, but particularly as an adult with its wings in shades of blue and green. Its range is small, limited to isolated but seemingly relatively healthy populations in the Alps and Pyrenees in France and Spain, and a presumed introduced population also occurs in Switzerland. It is believed that this is an ancient cousin of the classic Actias family of Moon Moths, and that it has declined greatly since the last Ice Age as its cool Pine Forest habitat became far more restricted, limiting isabellae to mountainous regions. Caring for cocoons and moths is not at all difficult, however many breeders struggle to achieve pairings, and those that do often also find rearing caterpillars challenging - they seem to require airy conditions, possibly preferring to be outside exposed to the weather - but with good care it is certainly possible to rear them to adulthood. Cocoons remain dormant over winter, emerging between April and July depending on the population or region.
Difficulty - Cocoons/moths are easy (1/10); breeding and rearing is challenging (7/10)
Host plants - Black Pine & Scots Pine
Conditions - Airy; may do better outdoors
Lifecycle - Single brood; cocoons overwinter