Eclosure is when the
actually moth hatches from its cocoon. When a moth first hatches from its cocoon,
it should be left alone as the wings are soft and can be damaged easily. The
moth will, if its not already in a place where it can hang, crawl to a place
where the wings can hang down so that the fluids can be pumped into the wings
and so that gravity can also pull on the wings. This is an amazing phenomena
that usually takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.
Here are some pictures
that I took at the fair. I had a huge exhibit at which I informed the public
on what I was doing and how I was doing it. It was also a place where people
could sign up to let me use host plants in their yard if the wanted to watch
the life-cycle of a moth. I luckily had my camera handy when this awesome event
occurred.
Polyphemus moth just breaking out of the pupal
case
Polyphemus moth coming out of cocoon
Empty Pupal shell and cocoon
Polyphemus moth free of her cocoon
Polyphemus hanging from eclosure cage drying
wings (10 minutes)
