Ratmosphere Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 While gathering supplies in the woods for beetle breeding, I found something spectacular on a branch with leaves. It's a cocoon! I'm pretty sure that there's a big moth inside. This totally made my Monday. (Photos deleted.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonsaladsandwich Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Ooh! Great find! Pretty sure it's actually a polyphemus moth. (My personal favorite species.) If it hatches next spring and turns out to be a female, you can put it outside in a screen cage and she'll attract males from miles around. The larvae eat fresh oak and birch leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade of Eclipse Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Definitely looks like some sort of Saturniid. It's not likely to be anything under Hyalophora since it's so small. If the cocoon is composed of a single, thin layer of silk, it might be a luna moth. If it's double-walled, tough, and thick, it might be a polyphemus or one of the other medium-sized, cocoon-forming moths in the family Saturniidae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted October 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 It was super hard to even try and get open! If it's a Polyphemus moth, it's awesome because I never hatched one of these. I'd probably get really good pictures too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonsaladsandwich Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Definitely looks like some sort of Saturniid. It's not likely to be anything under Hyalophora since it's so small. If the cocoon is composed of a single, thin layer of silk, it might be a luna moth. If it's double-walled, tough, and thick, it might be a polyphemus or one of the other medium-sized, cocoon-forming moths in the family Saturniidae.He mentioned that it was still hanging from a branch, so it's almost certainly a Polyphemus. Lunas crawl to the ground before spinning a cocoon. The color and texture of the silk and the fact that it's difficult to get open also suggest polyphemus. I would not recommend trying to cut the cocoon open if it still has to overwinter. Just be patient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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