Today is the first day of spring. While all the blossoming and chirping is happening outside, something also happened inside. Our long-time visitor decided to make some noise and then emerge from his cocoon.
So welcome spring and Kermit, our luna moth.
Please excuse all the crying (Sinatra wanting attention) and commenting. We were all excited. Gem even pronounced him a boy. (You can actually tell by the thickness of the feathery antennae). The footage is so quick that you are hardly able to see the thing, but you might notice that he doesn't look much like a moth. When they emerge
their wings are folded up. Within an hour they are fully open and dry.
If you're looking for a pet, I highly recommend a luna moth at the point of hibernation: only high maintenance for a few weeks then they spin a cocoon and sleep for six months. When they emerge they do not have a mouth or a stomach. They live for a week (in which they must mate) and then die. They're also the largest moth in North America, have swallow tail shaped wings, and are a lovely shade of pale green.
More pictures to come when we set him free.
No Longer Mundane
11 years ago
2 comments:
Congratulations on the birth of your new moth! That is a really neat project to do with the kids. Do you now have to set the moth free or can you keep him? That was cool to watch.
Oops,I should have read the entire blog before asking what would happen to the moth. You explained it all in great detail.It was very interesting and informative. : )
CLW
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