Moth pupa?

[joossa]

Hey everyone.

I found this on the ground in my back yard on a windy day not too long ago. Is it a moth pupa?

I am keeping it in a deli cup at room temp. Do I need to spray it or do anything special?

 

[Rick]

Looks like it.

 

[jacksun]

Hey everyone.I found this on the ground in my back yard on a windy day not too long ago. Is it a moth pupa?

I am keeping it in a deli cup at room temp. Do I need to spray it or do anything special?

hmmm....Fig Sphinx moth - Pachylia ficus? Just a guess mind you.

 

[jacksun]

Some pics of the fig sphinx moth and cocoon.....these are from http://bugguide.net

 

[Peter Clausen]

Looks a little small in his hand to be that moth, but I could be wrong. Identifying adult moths or larvae is hard enough. Identifying them while pupating is almost supernatural. I'm prepared to be VERY impressed though!

 

[Rick]

Looks a little small in his hand to be that moth, but I could be wrong. Identifying adult moths or larvae is hard enough. Identifying them while pupating is almost supernatural. I'm prepared to be VERY impressed though!

I agree. Many of them look pretty much the same.

 

[jacksun]

Looks a little small in his hand to be that moth, but I could be wrong. Identifying adult moths or larvae is hard enough. Identifying them while pupating is almost supernatural. I'm prepared to be VERY impressed though!

Me too.......It is just a guess which means (I'll quote my Wife here) "there is a 50% chance I'll be wrong and a 50% chance I won't be right"

 

[Orin]

I'd guess it's an Arctiidae pupa, doesn't look like a sphinx.

 

[joossa]

I think the pupa is way too small to be a sphinx. It is right around 1.5cm long. Orin, we do get some nice Arctiidae species during the summer months. that might be it....

I'll post pictures of whatever emerges, if anything does emerge....

 

[Peter Clausen]

Probably goes without saying, but offer it something to climb up on before it actually ecloses...so it can spread out its beautiful (tiger?) wings!

 

[hibiscusmile]

Me too.......It is just a guess which means (I'll quote my Wife here) "there is a 50% chance I'll be wrong and a 50% chance I won't be right"

she is absolutly right! :lol:

And I love the moth pics, they are as beautiful as butterflies!