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Habitat and Distribution:
So far in Santa Clarita this large (3"+) moth has only been found near stands of pine in town. Local wilderness areas have not yet yielded any specimens, indicating that it may be established only on the mature pine trees planted in suburban SCV areas. It may also be a subspecies or isolated geographical race of the typical G. Arizonensis species.
Captured females appeared to be very fresh and laid many eggs, which fits with local emergence near the potential host in the capture area. The foodplant is generally considered to be Juniper, however, records list several pine species, and no captures have been noted in the areas east of the SCV with native Juniper stands. More field work is definitely needed.
General Information:
The flight period begins in mid-August, and continues to mid-September. Adult females fly at dusk for about 90 minutes, with the peak being within the first hour. Females are apparently attracted (or emerge) into the area by the foodplant, and divert to just about any light source (flood lights, UV bug zapper, fluorescent, etc.) once within range. Flight habits are very much like Sphinx moths, and they crash to the ground near strong light sources, with an audible "thud". They may enter lighted garages or porch areas and could be mistaken for small bats.
The smaller males fly in mid to late afternoon, and are not attracted to lights. Their flight is very fast and darting, making them all but impossible to net. It would seem that the easiest way to get males is to rear them!
Life Cycle Notes:
Captive males and females emerged at varying times during the day, but mostly in the early morning. Both sexes remain still until late afternoon, when the females begin scenting and the males take flight. It was noted that most males did not become active until a scenting female was detected. Mating can take place any time between early afternoon and late evening.
After having mated, females fly and oviposit at dusk, for about 90 minutes. 1 or 2 large (25 to 30) egg masses are laid the first night, with females exhibiting little or no flight activity, probably because they are so laiden with eggs that they find it difficult to get airborne. Most of the ova are likely to be laid very near the location where the female emerged and mated. Smaller egg masses (10 to 20) are laid with greater flight activity on subsequent nights. Females will continue to oviposit smaller masses until their supply is depleted, inabout 3 days.
The ova hatch in about 21 days and the larvae are very gregarious. Feeding occurs in short bursts, usually at dusk, for about an hour, and probably only once per day. The larvae are very slow but steady growing, and continue to feed and rest until May or June of the following year, when they will spin a thin cocoon in live needles, debris or some other substrate near the host tree.
Adults eclose about 30-40 days after pupation, usually in late July to late August.
][2005 some captive eclosures][2005 many
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