Kids' Nature Blog

Observe-O-Hatchery: Laurel Sphinx Moth

Hot-dog size caterpillar we found last fall

Last year, we found this caterpillar, which looked like it was made of bright green play dough. When I touched its butt it felt spiky (it is on the left in the picture). But the rest of it was soft and squishy, like play dough.

I identified it as a Laurel Sphinx moth caterpillar. We read about it. We probably caught is just before it was about to go pupate under ground. So, we made it a nice habitat first, but then when it seemed ready to pupate, we put it in a paper cup filled with paper towel pieces. And we left it there for some weeks.

One day, we checked on it. It turned into THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:

The pupa looks like something from another planet!!

Then, we transferred it under ground in a glass terrarium, with paper towels and soil. It has been there and the same for 6 months. It does not eat or drink, but it can move. When you touch it, it wiggles!! I think it does not like it.

In spring, it is supposed to hatch into a beautiful moth. …. It is already spring. But it still has not hatched.

I will post when it finally hatches. I hope it is soon!!

Loading

4 Comments

  1. Alexandra

    I wonder which butterfly will get out of this?

    • Galina

      I could not believe that from this strange entity will come beautiful butterfly! Thank you. it’s very interesting.

  2. Milan

    Eek!!!

  3. Steve

    Wow! It really does look like its from another planet! Neat! Cant wait to see it hatch!

© 2024 JoZoLabs

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑