Congrats, Sandy! I love how fat he/she is!
MissSherry

MissSherry,

Thanks! I just love finding new creatures in my garden and yard. And this summer has been one of many discoveries! Can't say it enough, what an amazing year!

Sandy

Sandy, that is great! I found one of them a few years ago, and did just what you are doing. I was rewarded with a gorgeous female polyphemus. I had NO idea how huge they are!

Scroll down in the gallery linked below for some pics. BTW, mine overwintered.

Here is a link that might be useful: clicky

Weed,

I followed your link and looked at your pictures. I enjoyed all of them. I figure this guy is going to overwinter also, As I didn't have any dry leaves, I gave him paper towels and shredded newspaper to make his cocoon in. It is completed and I have trimmed off all the excess paper so I could see the cocoon. I am excited. So many things to wait for until spring! BTWs, PVs, and a Polyphemus Moth.

Thanks for sharing,

Sandy

Well, my Polyphemus will not be hatching in the spring. It was parasitized and today I found all kinds of what looked like maggots in the container with the cocoon. They had bored through the end of the cocoon. I opened the cocoon and found the dead caterpillar. He did not have a chance.

Sandy :(

Figured I'd piggyback on this thread.

Had a big surprise today. I've been running my rearing bags through the wash to get ready for the season. Picked up one that still had the zipper zipped. I quickly found two polyphemus cocoons in it. From their weight, I'd say they are both alive. The big surprise is that they did not eclose already. The one time I didn't get a polyphemus cocoon outside for the winter, I ended up with a beautiful female fluttering around my house in December. I've read that polyphemus has broods year round in southern Florida so I would expect the same here when I keep the cocoons inside. Anyway, I'm surprised but glad that the moths stayed in their cocoons for the winter.

KC