Life support

The dead and dying Hawthorn leaves which were food for the Vapourer moth caterpillar and support for the cocoon it built prior to pupation.
I had hoped it would be a boy so that it would fly freely but a girl emerged, wingless and unable to feed.
She was outside for 9 minutes before a male found her, married for 9 minutes, laid about 100 eggs and died after 5 days.
Next year the cycle will begin again and this time I shall be able to record the complete life cycle
131021EM1iii311021

30th October 2021 30th Oct 21