I am SO not cool about creepy crawlies but I didn't want to give my kids nightmares so I acted like this was a really neat thing and we put it in a small aquarium in case it is something we want to watch awhile. Caterpillar of some sort? What will it become??
They look like Imperial Moth larvae... how big are they?
I would say it is about 3" long and 1" in diameter
http://bugguide.net/node/view/4757
I think it is Imperial moth larvae, take a look. The adults are beautiful. I hope you mean it is 1" in circumference, not diameter! Wow!
This message was edited Aug 24, 2006 1:40 AM
Yep - I did mean circumference. I also think you nailed it! Those pictures you found look exactly like it. I tried to save it in a large former fish aquarium. Either it got away or burrowed down in all the dirt I put in.
Wonder what it was doing in my midwestern yard with nothing but box elder trees and baby hostas??
This message was edited Aug 24, 2006 12:50 AM
Imperial moths pupate underground so they are probably buried in the soil. The caterpillars may have been crawling in your yard from somewhere nearby, looking for loose soil to burrow in. If you don't want to keep them, you should re-bury the pupae outdoors in a safe place near a tree or shrub, an inch or two deep in loose soil. If you do want to keep them, make sure there is something in the aquarium like a branch that they can crawl up on when they hatch. You'll need to keep any eye on them every day - when they do hatch don't disturb them while they are inflating and drying their wings. After you've had a look, release the moths at night. They only live a day or two after they hatch so let them go do their thing while they have a chance.
Thank you! I hope this one burrowed in the dirt we placed in there. I have 2 long and thick pieces of branch in there for it (if, in fact it didn't escape). Good info on when to release, etc. Should I put any leaves in ther in the way of food?
Before you start watching an aquarium of what could turn out to be just dirt, why not dig (very gently with your hands) to see if you can find any pupae? If they have pupated they're done eating. The adult moths don't eat (that's why you need to release them ASAP when they hatch - they need to find a mate quickly before they starve). Do you have the aquarium covered? Because moths can fly and you probably don't want to chase them around the house :) The reason I suggested releasing at night is to increase chances of survival (if you release during the day and the moth flies a bird could see it and eat it).
