Found two cocoons...least am fairly sure they are moth cocoons. Have no idea what kind though...any ideas? They are about 2" long and maybe 5/8" wide.
Here's one and you can still see part of the second one off to the lower left.
~ Cat
Any idea what kind of cocoon this is?
cat what is the plant they are on. Some moths stay on their host to cocoon, others burrow into the ground below the plant
Donna,
I must have been out in the heat too long today. It just never occured to me to connect the host plant to the cocoon. DUH!!!
The mothman identified as Rothschildea lebeau forbesi. Way cool. Host plant is colima (prickly lime ash) which is what they are on. Am not sure they are viable. They seem too light...not thick or thunky sound to them. Might have been parasitized...but am still going to watch over them.
~ Cat
If the plant happens to be related to the 'Texas'/ Purple Sage (Leucophyllum) .. it's pretty much gotta be the cocoon of the Calleta Silkmoth (Eupackardia calleta).
Their food plants are the Purple Sage and ash, and is also reported that they take easily to privet ..
And they are absolutely stunning creatures, Cat!! > http://www.wormspit.com/calleta.htm
- Magpye
host they are o.k. would love to see one hatch. Keep us posted
Prickly Ash!!
Welll, there ya go, Cat. That's definitely what you got - - - the Calleta Silkmoth!!
How very 'lucky' you are girlie!
(ya ol heifer) .. You get all the big gorgeous flutter-critters .. and they come naturally! .. LOL
((huggs))
- Magpye
now Cat how did you miss something as pretty as those moths and cats????
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/Rothschildia.htm
I tell you Donna..my brain was fried :o) Was also too busy concentrating on the butterflies species for our county count. Rest assured...now that I know what they are I'll be on high alert for more! I do so want to raise these guys!!!
~ Cat
Cat ..
Would you like for me to edit/to remove my posts -?-
I don't mind, really .. that is, if the # of (default limits) will allow me to do so.
Perhaps, it is the most logical thing to do at this point.
You twos' conversation has no intention in acknowledging any thing from me .. and I suppose that I didn't need to include myself in the first place. Jes another lesson I've learned the hard way I suppose ..
Just let me know something soon, so (I) can reap the full benefit of any/all edits I'm allowed - for both of our benefits. Will ya -?- You can say so here .. For what you've haven't said, already says plenny 'nuff. There'll be no rebuttal of any form or kind from me ..
G'nite
Magpye,
What am I supposed to apologize for or acknowledge?
I do appreciate your input and enjoy reading your posts and you always provide wonderful links to some gorgeous creatures however, I did not recognize the name of calleta silkmoth, the plant is was on is not related to purple sage and the link you provided was not of the Forbes' Silkmoth...which is what the cocoons were identified as by a mothman in Texas.
I did research on the calleta silkmoth and found it has not been recorded for our county. They are awesome and would like to raise those too but only if they are natives. Did read where they are found in the next county over...so there is still hope.
The link Donna provided was my own local NABA chapter's site for the Forbes' Silkmoth...something I completed overlooked.
~ Cat
Magpye didn't mean to ignore you but I didn't know what the Calleta Silkmoth was and after my post on the Gallinule thread on the bird forum I figured I just wouldn't say anything rather than put my foot in my mouth again lol