tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post2362569378981068254..comments2023-08-27T05:35:50.637-05:00Comments on Nature in the Ozarks: Cecropia Moth Caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia)Marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374936227735741953noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-17199842839613755292011-08-18T00:48:15.494-05:002011-08-18T00:48:15.494-05:00Congratulations on your finding one of these amazi...Congratulations on your finding one of these amazing cats, K. Tayler!Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03374936227735741953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-44642057127101158792011-08-17T23:43:02.495-05:002011-08-17T23:43:02.495-05:00I found this caterpillar on my sidewalk this after...I found this caterpillar on my sidewalk this afternoon. I was amazed when I looked it up! The one I found was probably about four inches long. Fascinating caterpillar to find in Syracuse, Ny.K.Taylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372592029466610746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-85655148911700343552011-07-03T19:52:31.932-05:002011-07-03T19:52:31.932-05:00I found one of these on my door this morning. It w...I found one of these on my door this morning. It wouldn't budge and I took a picture of it. It was so big that my daughter was afraid to walk through the front door. All of this information is very interesting.erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04417021956469498118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-74765281240578270782009-09-29T01:00:30.642-05:002009-09-29T01:00:30.642-05:00I'm glad I could help, Amy. I agree it is irr...I'm glad I could help, Amy. I agree it is irresponsible to sell the caterpillars without telling the buyer what to expect and providing some care instructions.<br /><br />I hope everything goes well with your pupa and you and your son get to see the moth emerge in the spring. Nature is full of wonders, but not perfect. Sometimes life cycle processes go wrong even under the best conditions.Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03374936227735741953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-50821682469188307762009-09-28T12:43:57.844-05:002009-09-28T12:43:57.844-05:00Thanks so much for responding and offering those t...Thanks so much for responding and offering those tips, Marvin. The links you provided are great and will help quite a bit. I'm just amazed that these caterpillars are being sold without any true regard for their needs! When my son and I purchased ours, we were told that it would be going into its cocoon soon and would then emerge as a cecropia moth -- that's it. NOTHING about the fact that it needs to overwinter in the cocoon and would do best outdoors. Like I said, it simply amazes me that these creatures are being sold by people who obviously know very little about them. But luckily I have your links and tips and we will do our best for our cecropia pupa. Thanks again!<br /><br />~AmyAmyMichelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14236756433115756089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-32712657340459261282009-09-28T02:11:14.666-05:002009-09-28T02:11:14.666-05:00Sorry, Amy, but overwintering a Cecropia pupa is n...Sorry, Amy, but overwintering a Cecropia pupa is not a subject I know a great deal about.. As I understand it, the two most critical factors are keeping the pupa cool and preventing it from drying out. Hence, it cannot be kept indoors.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wormspit.com/cecropia.htm" rel="nofollow">One source</a> says he kept his pupa in his refrigerator crisper drawer in a freezer baggie. Elsewhere I've read they should just be kept outdoors in a container to protect them from predators. You might also want to check out this BugGuide <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/203352" rel="nofollow">article on raising caterpillars</a>.<br /><br />I hope these links help.Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03374936227735741953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-28049334795321208832009-09-27T18:36:50.437-05:002009-09-27T18:36:50.437-05:00I purchased one of these fascinating creatures at ...I purchased one of these fascinating creatures at our state fair on August 28. The caterpillar hsa now been in its cocoon since Sept. 12, and after spending many days wondering when it will emerge, I am just now learning that it needs to spend the winter in its cocoon. This isn't a problem for me, except that I'm not sure what I should be doing for the pupa during this time. Do I need to keep it anywhere special, at any specific temp, etc.? Any advice would be most appreciated! Thanks for your time.<br /><br />~AmyAmyMichelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14236756433115756089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-5672787285780847912009-08-27T01:36:30.060-05:002009-08-27T01:36:30.060-05:00Great photos. What an amazing creature - both sta...Great photos. What an amazing creature - both stages are so beautiful and so different.Garden Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-18328621832532964582009-08-22T01:52:52.096-05:002009-08-22T01:52:52.096-05:00Wow!! really wonderful..I like the second picture....Wow!! really wonderful..I like the second picture..its just simply superb..keep going..<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.telekomx.mobi/lp1/iwaybpo/" rel="nofollow">Are you scared to be alone at home need security</a>Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793976731794087407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-29962452254602358952009-08-19T18:56:54.215-05:002009-08-19T18:56:54.215-05:00WOW!!!
Fantastic moth and cat!
SherryWOW!!!<br />Fantastic moth and cat!<br />SherryQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02473455565144414399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-24789774818021006062009-08-18T08:00:01.711-05:002009-08-18T08:00:01.711-05:00Well done, Jo! The caterpillar looks like a tiny ...Well done, Jo! The caterpillar looks like a tiny living cactus, with blooms, and the moth is gorgeous!Pat - Arkansashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-64095231317122267082009-08-18T04:48:52.774-05:002009-08-18T04:48:52.774-05:00This is a stunning set of photographs Marvin. In b...This is a stunning set of photographs Marvin. In both these stages it is a beautiful critter. Thanks for the excellent post and information too.SAPhotographs (Joan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15993474141491808257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-3792178555739543232009-08-17T20:01:46.046-05:002009-08-17T20:01:46.046-05:00Earlier I couldn't recall the other moth I had...Earlier I couldn't recall the other moth I had in mind when talking about the eye spots. It's called the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) from the tropics of Asia, a stunning example of the eye spot development. "Google image" for some good examples, one can imagine it being mistaken for either a bird or snake. For another amazing moth, check out the Hercules Moth (Coscinocera hercules) from Australia. Almost big enough to require air traffic control. :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-23602905312288571272009-08-17T12:31:59.786-05:002009-08-17T12:31:59.786-05:00Also, thank you very much for putting this up on y...Also, thank you very much for putting this up on your blog. This brings back fond memories of finding these little-big guys when I was younger and had even managed to sucessfully rear a few to adulthood in captivity. They were released promptly (short lifespan) during the night when they are most active in finding a mate and predation is lower. Beautiful creatures, thank you !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-47199561364784238602009-08-17T12:22:13.032-05:002009-08-17T12:22:13.032-05:00I've read that the colors of moths and butterf...I've read that the colors of moths and butterflies (like many other animals) have developed as a warning to predators as Marvin mentioned, as camouflage, or mate attraction. Consider that insects, and some of their predators, do not see in the same wavelength of light we do. I have also read many times that predator pressures (natural selection) are what have driven the development of the "eye spots". This can be seen in a number of other animals as well, fish for example. Scroll back up and with your hand cover all but one of the of the forewings. See the snake head ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-56135581956599939662009-08-09T01:22:52.054-05:002009-08-09T01:22:52.054-05:00I certainly cannot answer the "Why?", Tr...I certainly cannot answer the "Why?", Troy. There's the common characteristic where caterpillars are colorful to warn potential predators they taste bad, but beyond that, there no reason for the coloration to become so elaborate. The same "Why?" applies to the adult moths too. Male and female moths find each other because she emits pheromones and those big antennae give him an acute sense of smell. The moth is beautiful to us, but coloration means nothing the the moths.Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03374936227735741953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-63951895108838455212009-08-09T01:10:32.711-05:002009-08-09T01:10:32.711-05:00Thanks for all the comments.
Most moths and butte...Thanks for all the comments.<br /><br />Most moths and butterflies have a relatively short life as adults. That's why they can be so fragile. Silkworm moths take this to an extreme by having lost the mouth parts and digestive tract necessary to feed.<br /><br />I suppose the longest life stage is the overwintering pupae, though being dormant in a pupal case inside a cocoon isn't much of a life.Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03374936227735741953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-34925943899337814562009-08-08T23:37:55.501-05:002009-08-08T23:37:55.501-05:00Both the moth and caterpillar are awesome. It look...Both the moth and caterpillar are awesome. It looks like that the caterpillar has flowers of thorns. The moth has an interesting pattern and colors combination.Birdy Officialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16338449421666175344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-67978131391164597762009-08-08T03:41:36.978-05:002009-08-08T03:41:36.978-05:00woahh!! the cat and the moth are so beautiful :) t...woahh!! the cat and the moth are so beautiful :) the cat looks like with colorful pins all over the body. thanks for the interesting information regarding its instars. so this moth lives most of its life as a caterpillar!rockseahttp://www.rocksea.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-27264858043076712602009-08-07T23:19:15.793-05:002009-08-07T23:19:15.793-05:00Well, give Jo a big A+ for the fine photography......Well, give Jo a big A+ for the fine photography... That caterpillar just blows me away... A little Christmas tree, of sorts... Where does nature come up with these things?AphotoAdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08581940419934089601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-46079946988122670522009-08-06T22:27:36.837-05:002009-08-06T22:27:36.837-05:00Great shots & what a wonderful caterpillar!Great shots & what a wonderful caterpillar!Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-60158192782972727092009-08-06T18:00:12.535-05:002009-08-06T18:00:12.535-05:00Beautiful Cecropia Moth image! The caterpillar so...Beautiful Cecropia Moth image! The caterpillar sort of looks like a futuristic cactus.Diane AZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02304549124035767882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-6066783284167122112009-08-06T17:22:06.821-05:002009-08-06T17:22:06.821-05:00I was looking at the caterpillar, and as a curious...I was looking at the caterpillar, and as a curious human person, I need to know what the purpose of that beautiful design and fantastic colors are for. It's not to attract a mate. So what? I really need to know. <br /><br />The longer I look at this, the more beauty I see in design, color and intricacy.<br /><br />Anyway, beautiful photos.<br /><br />TroyTexas Travelershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16250697065385437368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-20452324881682485762009-08-06T12:51:34.509-05:002009-08-06T12:51:34.509-05:00AWESOME! I love these large silk moths! Great phot...AWESOME! I love these large silk moths! Great photos Marvin.Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261260.post-54159784737203806332009-08-06T11:26:38.405-05:002009-08-06T11:26:38.405-05:00Both stages are quite spectacular. What an wonder...Both stages are quite spectacular. What an wonderful bug.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com