"I obtained this hybrid a first time in 2005, with only one female imago. Hervé Guyot also succeeded in 2006. All the pairings were manual and hatching rates were excellent in both cases. My friend Robert Lemaître was in charge to share the 300 eggs, with many other breeders (Robert Beck, Reinhold Höge, Steve Kohll, Oliver Kurz, Michel Lamour, Eric Legrand, Alan Marson, Jean-Pierre Pagnon, Angélo Santin, Jean-Claude Tavernier, Robert Zaun).

"First instars did well, but problems occured through L4, L5 and L6 instars (we can notice that there are six instars as we can observe in pure Attacus caesar species, unfortunately I don't have any photo of this last instar). Many breeders did not obtain any cocoon at all. All in all, we obtained less than a dozen cocoons with a majority of females. It is worth noting and a little strange that, on the opposite, we mainly obtained males from Attacus caesar x Attacus atlas hybridization.

"It is difficult to say if losses were due to the hybrid itself or were the consequence of a general problem we faced in France during year 2006, i.e. massive caterpillar deaths occuring during latest instars, and particulilarly among Saturniidae species.

"We still don't know the reason, and a study is in progress with my friends from the OPIE's (http://www.insectes.org/) « groupe élevage Ile de France". Did you meet the same problem in the US? Did other breeders report you the same difficulties? It would be interested to share our experiences.

"However, I believe (but this is my opinion) that the two species are not that close as we could expect: There was no problem in my breedings during 2005 and the result for this first hybridization has been very poor too.

"Moreover, Robert Zaun and I crossed two times a male of Attacus caesar x Attacus atlas with an Attacus caesar female. We both obtained eggs from these pairings but, unfortunately, only unfertilized ones, suggesting sterile hybrid male (to be confirmed with future hybridizations)."

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female, first instar, Robert Lemaitre image.

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female, second instar, Robert Lemaitre image.

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female, third instar, Patrick Guivarch image.

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female, third instar, Robert Lemaitre image.

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female, fourth instar, Robert Lemaitre image.

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female, fifth instar, Robert Lemaitre image.

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female,
female, obtained by Patrick Guivarch, Robert Lemaitre image.

Attacus atlas male x Attacus caesar female, female, Reinhold Höge image.