More night critters
Jul 26, 2020 00:22:17 #
Jul 26, 2020 02:07:33 #
srat50 wrote:
Polyphemus Moth
Looks to be female.
To possibly get eggs, put her in a paper lunch bag.
She is going to die in a few days anyway.
Fold closed and put in a quite place for a few days.
Open bag (don't breath the loose scales) and check for eggs.
They will be glued to the paper.
Snip paper around eggs with scissors to get them free. Do not try to pull loose, they will break.
Eggs hatch in about ten days. Shells of eggs turn clear about a day before hatching.
When they hatch, put a few leaves of Star Gum with the caterpillars.
Do not handle them. Let them move onto leaves. Very fragile at this point.
Feed larva on Star Gum. It lasts in water well and is easy to come by.
Good luck, should you try.
Bill
Jul 26, 2020 09:16:20 #
Unfortunately she died before i could get her home. She looked a bit beaten up so I think she must have laid her eggs before I found her.
Jul 26, 2020 12:16:55 #
srat50 wrote:
Unfortunately she died before i could get her home. She looked a bit beaten up so I think she must have laid her eggs before I found her.
RIP
She did look rough.
Next time.
Bill
Jul 27, 2020 11:31:27 #
Jul 27, 2020 23:34:22 #
What a neat photo and animal - beautiful eyespots! With those feathery antennae, I'd say it was a male. Too bad. You may have problems getting eggs! It's also been through the wars, all raggedy. The males spend nights scouting for receptive, more sedentary females, using the moon, if up, to quarter the breeze (or, unfortunately, a street light and fly in circles). Females emit alluring pheromones, the males pick the scent up by receptors on the large surface area of the antennae and fly up-wind when they sense a female, zeroing in sometimes for several miles in a light breeze. Your guy is probably near the end of life, but might still find a female. They usually overwinter as a pupa in a cocoon, eclose in spring to early summer, and look to get together for a quickie before moving on. The cats gorge all summer before spinning a cocoon and pupating.
Jul 28, 2020 17:32:32 #
Jul 28, 2020 18:17:54 #
relbugman wrote:
What a neat photo and animal - beautiful eyespots!... (show quote)
When in hand I may look for claspers.
When bedraggled worse than this and things get difficult, that may be the only recourse.
Bill
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