They're gone!!!! :(

19 years ago

My beloved zst cats. I kept watch over them for days, they were on 2 different paw paw's. I had a cage wrapped around 1, but the other was not covered. I was worried I was being over protective, and not wanting the cage to damage the tree or squish cats, I removed it. I was too tired to get the cats last night, as I had to prep some space in the garage.....thought I'd wait until I came home today. I went out, and there was only 1! I'm so bummed. All of the cats were about 5/8 of an inch long, too small to pupate I assume....I brought the one in. I am just so bummed. So bummed. There were 9 of them. @ different trees. Who could have gotten them????? I am absolutely depressed...this is about my favorite bf.

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Comments (6)

MissSherry
19 years ago
I seem to remember reading that ZSTs are night feeders, and they go down to the bottom of the pawpaw during the daytime. Maybe you can go out tonight with a flashlight and see if they're feeding? Another possibility is that they're between instars and they moved off their host plant to molt - many cats do this.
I sure hope nothing has happened to them!
MissSherry
Msrpaul
Original Author
19 years ago
I'm hoping such...but I saw them every evening.....I have mulch around the paw paw, and am worried I could have stepped on them if they were in the mulch....but to see them every evening....I'm so bummed....perhaps I should go out there with a flashlight?
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MissSherry
19 years ago
I would, but then I'm a caterpillarholic!
MissSherry
tdogmom
19 years ago
Get out that flashlight, Paul!

I have one of those lights that are on a headband...that way you are 'hands-free' and can use BOTH hands to search. ;P

Think positively...
Fledgeling_
19 years ago
ZST cats are cannabals, too. If you keep more than one confined in a small space they are likely to eat eachother. They also eat eachother in the wild too. Thats another possibility.

Here is a link that might be useful: cannibalistic
Msrpaul
Original Author
19 years ago
Update....I went out late, with flashlight...and found one more. Today, I saw a wasp hanging under one of the paw paws. I have my answer.

I stupidly didn't think to go to the nursery and see if they had any small paw paw's I could fit in the garage tent, well, today I did, and they did, a small one with nice fresh growth.

Watching like a hawk now.....I really want to get these guys established here! My trees were big enough, and the cats spaced apart enough, that it wasn't cannibalism. Twas a predator. Hey, tdog...whard'dja get the head flashlight? I need one of them bad boys....