The gift that keeps on giving

Garrett’s Great Granny brought him a gift yesterday. She found this giant moth lying on her back porch, unable to fly. After googling I discovered it’s a Polyphemus Moth, one of the largest moths in the United States. It’s also known as a giant silk moth. The wingspan on this lady is HUGE. Easily an impressive six inches or so.

She brought it to our house and gave it to Garrett because it was so unusual. I put it inside of our butterfly house from Insect Lore that has served as the nursery for many a winged creature over the years.

I considered letting her fly yesterday because she wasn’t eating the orange slices that I put in with her for food. Instead, I got busy and forgot about her until this morning. When I woke up this morning I saw here sitting on top of these round white pods that were stuck to the side of the net.

Much to my surprise when I googled what these strange pods were I found out they are eggs! She gave birth this morning! She did seem awful fat and unwieldy yesterday, so now we know why! She was pregnant. What a tremendous gift we’ve been given, even it it was unknowingly. Thanks so much, Granny! We now get to raise very hungry caterpillars and, if all goes well, witness seven giant silk moths emerge from cocoons. I’m researching all that I can about feeding and caring for them. The eggs will likely hatch while I’m at the Haven conference, so I’ve got to put my husband on baby caterpillar duty. From all I’ve read I believe that I can stick a live plant inside with them and they will munch to their hearts content, until they grow up into big, FAT caterpillars like this guy:

Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar image via fcps.edu

Garrett’s jaw dropped open when I told him the news. He’s SO excited about seeing these eggs hatch! It’s perfect timing, too, since we only have two ants still living in his Anthill that we started a few months ago.

Another biology project begins in the Boppy household…