A wonderfully dressed Vapourer moth caterbug, a mass of shaving brushes, fringes, lace and sticky out bits. This one will pupate soon.
If a boy he will fly freely, the girls have a very different and shorter life. They have only rudimentary wings and are unable to fly. As soon as she ecloses (emerges) she will release pheromones which will attract passing males. She will be rapidly impregnated, lay her eggs on her cocoon and then die. The eggs will remain where they are and the caterpillars emerge next year to repeat the cycle.
Part of me hopes it's a boy so he can fly away but the insect obsessed me would like a girl because I have never seen this part of the cycle.
Time will tell.
190721TZ200190721
Doggie mummy living in ancient York, Yorkshire, England.
Joined 1st Jan 2018
1st Jan 2024 have achieved 196%
28 March 2024 200%
I take photos, am not a photographer.
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@markp@koalagardens@fishers@milaniet@gamelee@fbailey@fbailey@fishers@merrelyn@bkbinthecity
Thank you all.My exotic caterbug has become very popular. I confess I am fascinated by this weirdly beautiful caterpillar, the first one I have raised. It's still eating happily but will stop feeding when it's ready to pupate. And then, after a couple of weeks, I'll know whether it flies or not. Very mixed feelings about this.
Ian
Thank you all.My exotic caterbug has become very popular. I confess I am fascinated by this weirdly beautiful caterpillar, the first one I have raised. It's still eating happily but will stop feeding when it's ready to pupate. And then, after a couple of weeks, I'll know whether it flies or not. Very mixed feelings about this.
Update. The caterpillar has now pupated. It created a delicate web cocoon which it decorated with the individual āhairsā of its lacy eyebrows. In a couple of weeks I should have the moth, boy or girl, flight or pregnancy and very short life?