RJH Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 (edited) It's big, solid black, and very fuzzy/hairy. They want to keep it (we have a butterfly pavilion) and wait for it to turn into a butterfly. It seems very late in the season for it to turn into a butterfly in our areas(va). So I'm thinking it doesn't really have a chance outside, or I wouldn't even entertain the idea of bringing it inside. Is it possible to keep it until does it's thing? I know they eat milkweed, but we don't have any to feed him. What else can he eat? ETA: I found info on what they caught! This thing is amazing, and so pretty! Not exactly a butterfly. http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek020608.html Edited November 7, 2008 by RJH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean too Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I think you have found a woolly worm. If he is solid black he is predicting a cold winter for your area. You can google woolly worm for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Woweee! That's really cool. I would definitely try to keep it, though I don't know about the feeding. So far we've done all of ours inside, and by the time we found them, they were ready to make their coccoons, so they didn't need to eat. We didn't end up with anything nearly that cool though. Will it be warm enough to release it where you are? I guess either way it would die in the elements though, so you might as well give it a few more weeks of life if you can, and enjoy the lesson in the meantime. So neat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJH Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 It's a giant leopard caterpillar/moth. It hibernates in winter, so we will be letting it go. I haven't told that to DD yet. She will not be happy. :tongue_smilie: http://butterflies.heuristron.net/moths/leopard.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 It's a giant leopard caterpillar/moth. It hibernates in winter, so we will be letting it go. I haven't told that to DD yet. She will not be happy. :tongue_smilie: http://butterflies.heuristron.net/moths/leopard.html Oh, too bad! Why don't you want to keep it? Too creepy to have it inside all winter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJH Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 Oh, too bad! Why don't you want to keep it? Too creepy to have it inside all winter? Not creepy at all. I'm just afraid it would die. It eats dandelions, though. And we do have plenty of those in the yard. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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