A Looong Story With A Lappet Moth Pt 3 Fini!

[AlP]

Now we fast forward from July 4, 2020 to May 3, 2021. Our first Lappet moth! Almost 10 months to the day from last cocooner to first emergence.

As usual, I was curious about the cocoons.

A very recent emergent rests atop from where it cocooned. Nine images hand stacked.

Moth "hangs out" to let its wings unfurl and dry out. Eight images hand stacked.

At first I thought I had deformed moths that looked like this. As I watched I could see the wings slowly unfurl. Four images hand stacked.

A moth completely transformed. Eight images hand stacked.

Each day several moths would emerge which I put outside on a dead plant. They would all find a spot on the plant and at about 10 PM like clockwork they would all take off in a westerly direction. In all 49 moths emerged with only one dying.

Whew! The end.

[rjlittlefield]

98% survival rate for eggs through to adult? Wow! That's way better than I ever managed.

And lovely photos along the way!

--Rik

[grgh]

this has been a story of perseverance, patients and skill.
Followed you all the way and well done on such a successful outcome.

[Bob-O-Rama]

This is just a great series. This is the sort of thing "The Dodo" would do a clip about.

[MarkSturtevant]

A very enjoyable series! Those are wonderfully sharp pictures too.