What an amazing cat!

I got a picture of the moth laying eggs on an iris blade.

I had no idea what the caterpillar would look like. How neat you posted this.
I forgot to go back and see what developed.

That's amazing Glenda. Did you take the picture during the daytime? It's unusual to see them at all, let alone laying eggs.
There's a long list of host plants for them but I don't recall seeing iris on there. I read that Cecropia's will lay their eggs on the wrong thing sometimes which that moth may have done. I wonder how far the little hatchlings can travel to find a host plant. What trees/shrubs are close to the iris?

Yes, it was in the daytime. I didn't know what it was at first.

The cherry tree is across the yard up front by the road.
Nearby is a peach, ash tree, roses, lilies phlox and a butterfly bush.

Ooo, gorgeous!

Here's the cecropia cat now. It's not full grown but almost. I put it next to a ruler to show its size. They're fat!
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You are a good caregiver to keep it alive that long. It looks very fat and healthy.

My cecropia finally emerged this week. I was starting to worry that it was dead. They're huge!

That is beautiful. I would be very worried about my baby if I had raised it. How long does the adult live? I have a cat on rue. It looks like the ones that get on dill or fennel.

That is incredible. Holy cow!

Thank you Helen and Becca. The adult Cecropias only live a few days. I put mine outside the next night in a mesh hamper and it attracted a couple males. It's a shame they don't fly around in the day time. They're kinda pretty. Someone in another forum commented that they wanted to do their living room in those colors. : )

Black Swallowtails do eat rue Helen. Giant Swallowtails do too but they look different, like bird poop sort of.

Becca - Welcome! Please stick around.