Remember this little critter? Well almost exactly 8 months later, she decided to take her sweet time and reveal her wings. Or should I say wing? She looks a little lopsided. But she is glorious and it is a remarkable feat of nature.
We kept her in a butterfly tent in our protective back porch over the fall and winter and much of spring. Over the last few weeks, I kept checking to see if she was ready - I would have felt terrible if she emerged only to starve. I lifted the leaf she was under and removed half of her cocoon. I was very worried that I killed her but her chrysalis looked shiny and healthy and I felt sure she was still alive.
I finally put her butterfly tent outside with the zipper open so that is she did emerge, she would not be stuck. Yesterday I checked on her and couldn't find her chrysalis. Upon further inspection, I found her at the top of the butterfly tent. I was so happy! Ask Betsy - I squealed with glee.
Today I found her the same position. Worried that she was with us for the long haul, I did a little flick and was able to get her onto the grass. A trip to school to pick up Aidan and she had found her wings.
Yay for mother nature.
I should edit this to say that I used "chyrsalis" improperly. Moths only make cocoons.
Posted by: Sarah | September 13, 2011 at 01:17 PM
I don't know anything about this type of moth, but I do know about raising little creatures in the butterfly tent. What a great learning experience for you as well as Aidan. Activities like this make me happy, even at my ripe old age.
Posted by: Junie Moon | May 14, 2009 at 09:21 AM
These are bad! They spread swine flu! Find it and kill it. Only fire will properly kill it.
Posted by: S Yanoff | May 12, 2009 at 11:35 PM