how do moths time their cycles?

[Liz Day]

There is something I don't understand -

what determines the timing of a Saturniid's life cycle (for the multi-
voltine ones)?  I mean can they change it, like say you get some Massachusets
moths and bring them to Indiana, and raise them through a couple of
generations (no outbreeding to Indiana moths) - will they adjust their
cycle to be in synch with the seasons here?  Or are they stuck, genetically,
in whatever timing they started out with, no matter what happens in their
environment?

At what part of the life cycle (if any) is the animal able to
have its timing altered?


Liz Day
LDAY at iquest.net
Indianapolis, Indiana, central USA, 40 N latitude.

Home of the apple-eating woodpecker, the suet-eating catbird,
and the sunflower-seed-hulling grackle.