Raising a pandora sphinx moth
Jul 22, 2022 09:48:05 #
Last summer I stumbled upon a large caterpillar that I had not seen before. It was the larva of the pandora sphinx moth (Eudorpha pandorus). Unlike most sphinx moth caterpillars, these don't have a horn on their rear end. Instead, they have a hard "button" that looks like an eye. Anyway, here is the caterpillar. For scale, its a bit larger than your thumb.
Pandora sphinx moth caterpillar by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Pandora sphinx moth caterpillar by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Members of this family pupate underground. So when it was time I put it into a bucket of dirt in the basement. Later, I placed the pupa in a container in the refrigerator, and there it stayed until the weather warmed.
Pandora sphinx moth pupa by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Once it was time to move things along, the pupa was kept in a bowl of dirt in a bug cage, and I checked on it every morning. The big day came in June, when a large and beautiful moth was in the bug cage, and here it is!
Pandora sphinx moth by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The same day, I put the moth deep into the woods in a well sheltered spot, near where I had found the caterpillar.
Here's that "button" on the rear end. Thanks for looking!
Pandora sphinx moth caterpillar by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Pandora sphinx moth caterpillar by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrPandora sphinx moth caterpillar by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrMembers of this family pupate underground. So when it was time I put it into a bucket of dirt in the basement. Later, I placed the pupa in a container in the refrigerator, and there it stayed until the weather warmed.
Pandora sphinx moth pupa by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrOnce it was time to move things along, the pupa was kept in a bowl of dirt in a bug cage, and I checked on it every morning. The big day came in June, when a large and beautiful moth was in the bug cage, and here it is!
Pandora sphinx moth by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThe same day, I put the moth deep into the woods in a well sheltered spot, near where I had found the caterpillar.
Here's that "button" on the rear end. Thanks for looking!
Pandora sphinx moth caterpillar by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrJul 22, 2022 12:20:05 #
Jul 23, 2022 06:16:48 #
Great set. It's always nice to start the day learning something new. Thanks for the mini-lesson.
Jul 23, 2022 06:53:14 #
Jul 23, 2022 07:11:16 #
Jul 23, 2022 08:39:42 #
Jul 23, 2022 11:29:09 #
Jul 23, 2022 11:40:31 #
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
Quite interesting! Beautiful moth, they are quite large. The caterpillar doesn't resemble the moth, in the least. I found one of the moths last year, in my yard. Thanks for sharing!
Jul 23, 2022 14:49:28 #
Jul 23, 2022 15:58:50 #
Great find. Great shots. This genus has some spectacular members.
I lived in Jamaica many years ago, a bug lovers paradise. I was very heavy into Lepidoptera then.
Very common there was the Plumeria Sphinx Moth. I came across a plant that had about 8 fifth instar cats on it.
They were almost the size of a hotdog. The adult has a 6" wingspan.
Nature never ceases to amaze those of us who take the time to look.
I lived in Jamaica many years ago, a bug lovers paradise. I was very heavy into Lepidoptera then.
Very common there was the Plumeria Sphinx Moth. I came across a plant that had about 8 fifth instar cats on it.
They were almost the size of a hotdog. The adult has a 6" wingspan.
Nature never ceases to amaze those of us who take the time to look.
Jul 23, 2022 19:09:52 #
Thanks for the lesson and for sharing your experience of raising the beautiful moth.
Jul 23, 2022 21:48:41 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Last summer I stumbled upon a large caterpillar th... (show quote)
That is so cool. Thanks for sharing
Fran
Jul 25, 2022 13:12:31 #
Jul 25, 2022 20:01:47 #
Sep 18, 2022 16:48:32 #
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