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elephant hawk moth

11 comments


Back in April I cleaned the greenhouse thoroughly and on sweeping up under the staging I found this elephant hawk moth chrysalis. It was covered in, what I thought was spider webs, but after I’d cleared most of it off I read up on it and realised it was from the moth itself and helped it regulate temperature.

We, youngest and I put it in a tray of damp compost and popped it in the shed. We checked it regularly to make sure the compost remained just damp.

This carried on into early July. The books say they hatch in June but still no sign. It had also stopped moving when it was picked up. I started to fear the worst as it suddenly over 2 days went very dark.

One evening I opened the door to see:….

The split chrysalis was slimy to the touch. After several minutes of searching I finallly spotted it on the window frame. A pretty elephant hawk moth in all its glory.

I turned the light on from the garage and just waited. It flew out and up into the beech tree.

A long but worthwhile wait.

Isn’t nature wonderful?

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Comments

 

Well worth the wait SBG, isn't he a beauty? I'm quite sure lots of others would have swept up the chrysalis and that would have been that. What as good job you didn't.

30 Aug, 2016

 

My word,what a beauty! How lucky you were to appear at just the right time.

30 Aug, 2016

 

nothing like being a foster mum to a moth! seriously though I expect your moth appreciated your parental care.

30 Aug, 2016

 

it didn't hang around, bit like my own kids: ha ha

30 Aug, 2016

 

He's trying to trick everybody 'Oh I'm just a silly ole leaf just blowin' in the wind. Don't mind me!'

31 Aug, 2016

 

Lucky find.

31 Aug, 2016

 

Lucky moth!...
I guess not many have the care and attention this one had ?

31 Aug, 2016

 

What a happy end to a delightful story! :-))

31 Aug, 2016

 

How wonderful ! :)

1 Sep, 2016

 

The hawk moths are well worth looking out for. we saw an unidentified one last summer and at first we thought it was a bat.

I am just one very curious individual and wanted to be sure that I had correctly id the chrysalis.

2 Sep, 2016

 

What a find, and what a result, well done.

2 Sep, 2016

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