Silk moths emerge as adults without mouths. Imagine - they emerge, spread and dry their wings, mate, females lay eggs, and they die. They starve to death. The Luna Moth (above) is the beauty that is used in Lunesta commercials.
The caterpillar of the IO moth will sting - badly! But the adult is a beauty. Named for it's 'eyes' on its hingwings, it does not have a mouth when it becomes an adult.
Cecropia moth caterpillars start black, turn yellow, then turn green. Growing to 3" long, they make a cocoon, pupate into a pupa, and emerge as a huge beautiful moth, wihtout a mouth and cannot eat.
The Polyphemus moth is a huge brown moth. The spots on its wings are clear as glass. Again, the adult moth does not have a mouth.
Raising these moths are fun. The caterpillars do eat a ton of food - be prepared!
No comments:
Post a Comment