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WELCOME To: A Moth In Metamorphosis |
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Hyalophora cecropia: A Life Cycle Photo Journal. Part 1: Egg laying and Hatching
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It seems she was programmed to lay a certain quota of eggs per unit of energy used. Eggs were laid after each period of activity. The more activity, the more eggs were excreted. eggs could appear anywhere. A few were even laid right on my hand!
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It takes a full year for a cecropia caterpillar to grow up, spend the winter in a cocoon, and finally emerge the following spring to early summer as an adult moth. Cecropia pupae automatically go into diapause and require a several week cold period to "restart" the life cycle development process into an adult moth classifying them as obligate univoltine. So...be patient. Adult moths are due to come in summer of 2010! |
| Here is a video showing cecropia metamorphosis from egg hatching, larva growth to cocoon construction. Of special interest is a "shed to 5th skin" sequence. Many pictures comprising much of this video can be found elsewhere in this site. |
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Incredible Transformations: A Cecropia Moth Life Style from David Britton on Vimeo. |
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Below are two cecropia caterpillar hatch (eclose) photo sequences. Click on a thumbnail image below to view full size images and start a slide show, |
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| Eggs of the cecropia moth. They were laid hours after capture of the female moth June 21st 2009. Hatching occured ten days later. | This caterpillar hatched on July 2nd, 2009 about an hour ago. The baby is well on its way to finding its first meal. |
| This caterpillar hatched on July 2nd, 2009 about an hour ago. The baby is well on its way to finding its first meal.
Click here or on the baby caterpillar below to see a "Cecropia Moth Caterpillar Growth and Development Photo Journal". View the striking color differences exhibeted within a single instar growth period. Study an indepth slide show showing the ordeal of ecdysis into 5th instar shed. |
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For a complete cecropia caterpillar growth photo journal: Click here to continue to Part 2 |
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Experiance cecropia moth caterpillar growth and development. See colorful skin changes from black, orange to green and more. Witness what a caterpillar goes through in the 4rth to 5th instar shed process. http://lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com/caterpillar.htm Watch a caterpillar as it builds a silk frame strengthened eith leaves and proceeds to spin a cocoon. Watch what happens hidden within a cocoon as a cecropia pre-pupa sheds into a pupa, then slowly changes color from green to a rich deep brown. see http://lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com/cocoon.html |
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To see a monarch butterfly metamorphosis in transition click on one of these links. 
