Expected in the Spring, but can be later. Selene is a huge and truly stunning green moth with a wonderful larval stage. As one of the easier silk moths to rear, it is a very popular species with beginners, but also remains a firm favourite with seasoned enthusiasts. Larvae grow to an enormous size and are very easy to rear on hawthorn, walnut and various fruit trees. The adult moth has a wing span of 13-16 cms, with dramatic long tails that are dashed with a vibrant pink and it pairs readily in standard hanging cages in normal, room type conditions. During the winter months, caterpillars can be fed on rhododendron and are also reared equally well on eucalyptus gunni.
Larval foodplants: hawthorn (crataegus), plum (prunus), apple (malus), rhododendron, eucalyptus (gunni), walnut (juglans) and others.
Rearing: plastic boxes, cages, and we have had them survive outdoors in sleeves, but this may depend upon the origin of stock.
Photographs: single egg arranged on leaf x 20 magnification; 1st instar larvae; 2nd instar larvae; 3rd instar larvae; 4th instar larvae; adult male at rest; adult male at rest..
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOZ-CVOFDfc
