PORTABLE OUTDOOR CAGES FOR MATING FEMALE GIANT SILKWORM MOTHS (SATURNIIDAE) - Materials and methods

Oct 17, 2026

Uploaded by Aran

Portable outdoor mating cages are evaluated for giant silkworm moths (Saturniidae) to enable routine, unattended pairing of virgin females. The work addresses difficulties in obtaining fertile eggs for sustaining or initiating colonies, especially when time constraints limit hand mating or the use of indoor cages. Instead of tying out females with stationary setups, cylindrical camouflage cages were built to restrict female escape while allowing pheromone-seeking males access for copulation, with construction and field procedures tested across 1973–1974 studies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

1973 Studies

1974 Studies

# PORTABLE OUTDOOR CAGES FOR MATING FEMALE GIANTSILKWORM MOTHS(SATURNIIDAE)¹ THOMAS A.MILLER²AND WILLIAM J.CoOPER² U.S.Army Medical Bioengineering Research and Development Laboratory,USAMBRDL BLDG 568,Fort Detrick,Maryland 21701 Like many lepidopterists who colonize and study the saturniids,wemust find time apart from professional duties and other daily activitiesto pursue our interest in this family of moths.Therefore,our rearingmethods must be both efficient and reliable if we are to accomplish any-thing other than the mere maintenance of colonies.Although most ofthe saturniid species we have reared can be colonized for many genera-tions without difficulty,we have at times had a particular problem obtain-ing fertile eggs to perpetuate existing colonies or to begin new ones.Thisproblem has been a function largely of limited available time to ensurethe mating of females either by hand mating or by the use of indoorcages.For this reason we undertook an evaluation of methods for theroutine,unattended mating of female saturniids indigenous to our area.We decided beforehand that the tying out of virgin females and the useof various-size stationary cages or traps(Collins &Weast,1961;Quesada,1967;Villiard,1969)were not suitable to meet our requirements.Ourapproach,therefore,was to construct and test a series of portable out-door cages that could be substituted locally for tying out or stationarycages and could also be easily transported for use in remote field areas.These cages were designed to minimize or prevent the escape of femalesplaced therein while permitting pheromone-seeking males access for thepurpose of copulation. ## MATERIALS AND METHODS 1973 Studies.The cages used during 1973 were fabricated from heavy-gauge galvanized metal screen(1.27 cm openings).Each cage wascylindrical and contained a series of interior and exterior baffles asshown in Fig.1.All components were joined by soldering.The cageswere spray painted inside and out,in a pattern of brown,green,andblack,to camouflage them and minimize the probability of human tamper-ing.We constructed cages of two sizes:(1)small cages with thecylindrical portion 23 cm in height and 23 cm in diameter and(2) JoURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTs'SoCIETY Fig.1.Diagrammatic wire-screen mating cage:interior baffles(A,B,B',C);exterior baffles(D,D');and dead space(E).Side view without exterior bafflesshown. large cages with the cylindrical portion 46 cm in height and 38 cmin diameter.The entrance and baffles were approximately proportionalto the size of the cage.Additional details of construction are shown inFigs.2 and 3.The studies during 1973 were conducted at EdgewoodArsenal,Harford Co.,Maryland.The saturniid species we used wereobtained as diapausing pupae from various sources(Table 1).Allpupae were held over winter(1972-1973),during which they wereexposed to outdoor temperatures from the time they were obtained untilthe emergence of adults.Newly emerged virgin females were placed 3 Figs.2-3.Wire screen cages used during 1973:2,front view of cage containing C.promethea female no.1;3,angular view of cage containing C.promethea femaleno.4. outdoors in mating cages on the day of emergence or on the followingday.Small cages containing females of species in which males are day-flying [e.g.,Callosamia promethea(Drury)]were placed outdoors in thelate afternoon(after 1630 EST)but were not left overnight.Large cagescontaining females of species in which males are night-flying(i.e.,allothers in Table 1)were placed outdoors in the late afternoon or earlyevening,left overnight,and checked the next day between 0700 and0800 EST or 1200 and 1300 EST.This schedule was used because workrequirements precluded activities at other times.Cages were hung fromtree branches such that they were about 1.5 m above ground.Allfemales used in the cages were held indoors afterwards and allowed tooviposit so that the fertility of the eggs could be verified. TABLE 1.Sources of saturniid moths us

FAQs

Why were portable outdoor cages developed for Saturniidae mating?

To enable efficient and reliable routine, unattended mating of virgin females in cases where obtaining fertile eggs was difficult under limited time and less suitable stationary indoor/outdoor tying methods.

How were the mating cages designed to prevent female escape while allowing copulation?

The cages used wire-screen structures with interior/exterior baffles and camouflage coating to minimize tampering, while the entrance and baffles were arranged to permit pheromone-seeking males to reach females for mating.

What were the key differences between the 1973 and 1974 cage designs and field scheduling?

1973 cages were cylindrical galvanized metal-screen cages of two larger/smaller size classes placed outdoors at different times for day- vs night-flying male species, then checked the next morning or midday. 1974 cages used tubular metal can designs with different screen opening shapes and sizes, with procedures based on prior-year results.

Oct 17, 2026

Uploaded by Aran