The biggest push of monarchs were here Sunday evening for us. And that is not say there were lots. We found at the most eight in a roost. However, most were just onesie or two close to each other. If another big batch comes through I will let y’all know. So I think y’all in the Hill Country should get “ours” soon?
Kathy shared this with me and now I will share with you. She made me smile with her cute story about this moth. Here is the story. This was the subject line to the email, “Have you worn your emeralds lately?” The body of the email, “This Emerald was quite fond of me. I rescued it from drowning in a bucket of water and set it up on some lumber. It then proceeded to fly to me and climb on my camo t-shirt. Took a couple photos since my camera was in my hand. When I tried to remove it to my fence rail it flew into my face then disappeared.” Well, with a sharp eye and I presume back at her computer, Kathy found that was in fact a Bicolored Chlorospilates Moth (Numia bicoloraria). So darn not an emerald, but still a jewel nevertheless. And it made me smile!
Yesterday, I got a text from Judy. Miguel had found another Pink-striped Oakworm (Anisota virginiensis discolor)! Furthermore, Judy saved it for me per my request! It seems I am stray cat sanctuary now. LOL.
Don’t you love the colors?
Even the tail end is cool Yep, you know it now has a safe home. Now I hope that I can provide for its needs to pupate.
As I am heading out the gate at Judy’s house, a lump in the tree needed investigation! It was the Southern Flannel Moth (Megalopyge opercularis), also commonly called an Asp. The caterpillars are reported to have a painful sting. No personal experience, but I am going to not touch. 🙂 Thanks Judy for the stray cats at your house!
In yesterday’s post, I left you with the progress of the Buckeye caterpillar. This photo was taken at 6:16pm. I was sure that it was going to pupate overnight.
Hence, I decided to see if I could catch it doing it’s thing overnight. This was my setup with my old iPad and the LED light from my dissecting scope. I set it up for time-lapse. This photo was at about 10pm.
Indeed, image my surprise when I re-checked on it before bed. POOF, it had magically pupated! Can you imagine all the instructions that cells were churning out to achieve this miracle of nature? Heck, I have enough trouble following directions so this is totally amazing! As some of you sharp people may have noticed, I took the setup photo after it had pupated. So it did it’s thing of making the recognizable chrysalis over a three and half hour period. If I had known, I might have sat and watched it. So next time I should add a clock to the setup.
This morning’s studio shot!
Side shot! See what looks kinda like zippers? Next maybe I can catch it emerging. 😉
Thank you Mary for posting it. I have such a fond memory of that experience.
Cool cats.
I think that closeup of the asp looks like a Lhasa Apsa dog of caterpillars.
Interesting how long your cat hung there then quickly did its pupa form.
So glad your stray cats aren’t of the feline type.
Very cool cats!
That chrysalis is sooo cool. Glad you got the pics you did. And love Kathys story about the moth. Thanks Mary and Kathy
Whoa, I love those zippered sides! Wonderful post!
Thanks all! 🙂
Thank you Mary for posting it. I have such a fond memory of that experience.
Cool cats.
I think that closeup of the asp looks like a Lhasa Apsa dog of caterpillars.
Interesting how long your cat hung there then quickly did its pupa form.
So glad your stray cats aren’t of the feline type.