Arriving home from Uist with a moth pot containing hatching Puss Moth eggs, we found that a neighbour had taken into her care my Deathshead Hawkmoth caterpillars. These should not have arrived until after we'd got home. To her great credit, she'd opened the package and fed the cats on hibiscus leaves as she '' thought they'd be exotic and that was the only exotic plant she had''. B has always been interested in our catch and always appears to watch Pam empty the moth trap egg boxes in their garden.
Since then, Pam has been caring for minute caterpillars, the Puss in one container, the Deathshead in another, one on Buddleia, the others on Sallow.
May 29
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| Deathshead Hawkmoth |
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| Puss Moth |
In addition to this, I also have a large Hawkmoth chrysalis resting on some soil in a net breeding cage. This also has some dead twigs so that the emerging moth (fingers crossed) can climb up to dry its wings.
Exciting times. And sad. Half the the Puss cats have died. Reputed to be notoriously diffiucult to breed helps a bit. The remaining cats, of both species, are growing well.
June 9
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| Puss Moth |
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| Both the above are Deathshead Hawkmoth cats, colours are variable |
A potted Sallow and a Pink flowered Buddleia are waiting for their larger, and very hungry, guests to arrive. Should be another week or two.
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