emerged from its cocoon today as I was having coffee with my sister (Sugar) on the deck. I picked up some cocoons in January and put them in jars outside, checking every day to see if anything happened. When we sat down I noticed the cocoon was the same as always dry, gray, dead looking, I've been wondering if anything would ever come out.
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We had been sitting and chatting awhile, when something caught my eye, color or movement in the jar at my feet. I knew by the color right away it was the Cecropia Moth!
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11 comments:
WoW!
M :)
Congratulations! Your Cecropia Moth is unbelievably beautiful. It's North America's largest native moth. Do we know what kind of tree/shrub/bush it was on? M :)
M :) Thanks, I'm so proud, although I didn't really do much, kept it cool, dry, and away from predators. I really thought there was nothing in that cocoon.
It was from a small Black Cherry tree, which I have plenty of, black cornflake trees. We have seen the caterpillars on willows.
I'm not sure if it is a male or female, they are active at night. And only live about a week.
Thanks for sharing my excitment.
:)
I see those moths on rare occasions, but those are the best photos of one that I have seen!
Wow! this is so beautiful, im gonna be on the look out this winter for some cocoons. thanks for posting.
quietsolopursuits, Thanks, the pictures did turn out pretty well
considering I held the stick the moth was hanging onto, then took pictures holding the camera in my other hand.
My blog started with a caterpillar almost two years ago. So maybe the blog should be called
"All Things Amaze Me"?
Thanks for stopping by. :)
Flowerdave, It is a beautiful creature, so furry, sort of tarantula like!
It hung around on the deck until dark, then flew off into the trees. I saw many Cecropia cocoons this winter. I have two more small cocoons in jars (not Cecropia) I hope something comes from them soon.
If you have time you can go back to my first post in July 2010, I picked up an odd looking caterpillar on the mailbox.
Thanks. :)
Wow, what great macros! And what an interesting moth. I never knew moths stayed in cocoons all winter.
New Hampshire Gardener, Thank you, they did come out pretty good! Sometimes I just can't convince my camera to focus on close-ups.
You know, I started this blog because of a caterpillar I found on my mailbox, then raised him.
See "Petey the Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar" July 2010.
It took twenty-five days for Petey to go from caterpillar, chrysalis, to butterfly.
The Cecropia Moth was really amazing! Thanks for visiting, I appreciate your feedback.
:)
Amazing Cecropia pics! I live in eastern Allegan County, but only came across your blog after a relative in Illinois posted a link. I have enjoyed reading your posts and seeing your wildflower pics (and trying to name them before reading the caption). So many beautiful places right in this area! I can't help but notice a lack of pics from Yankee Springs/ Devil's Soupbowl and Kalamazoo Nature Center? Thanks again for sharing!
Jason Nature, Welcome to my blog. Glad to hear you enjoy the posts and pics.
Regarding Yankee Springs/ Devil's Soupbowl area, of course, I have been there, camping, and hiking but I've been blogging for less than two years -well you are right I don't think I have blogged about Yankee Springs. The next post will be about Gun Lake Tract which is in that neck of the woods.
As far as Kalamzoo Nature Center I haven't been and don't plan to go, although I hear it is a beautiful place.
If you have any suggestions of good places to explore just let me know. Thanks for following my blog. :)
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