Rothschildia lebeau (Guérin-Méneville, 1868), commonly known as Lebeau's Silk-moth or Rothshchild's Atlas moth, is a mid-sized species which has a native range extending from Ecuador in south America through Central America and into southern parts of the USA. It breeds well in captivity and we regularly receive cocoons from butterfly farms in south and central America, ensuring livestock is available at many points throughout the year. Caterpillars of this species are striking in all stages, beginning life with yellow, black and white colouration before acquiring green and white stripes in the final stages. Larval development is fast and pupation normally occurs at around 4-5 weeks after hatching, with tough silk cocoons typically constructed on host plant stems. Several host plants are accepted, however Privet is probably the best and is conveniently evergreen. Kept warm and humid, cocoons should emerge in around a month to six weeks, producing richly coloured moths which readily mate, starting the cycle over again!
