Last September, I came home from work to find this neon green caterpillar (photo 1) on the edge of my front door. It was about 4” long and as big around as my finger. Later that day, when I was heading out, I noticed it had made a cocoon (photo 2) next to the doorbell. This was early September with only a few weeks of warm weather left. Thanks to Google Lens, I was able to learn that this was an Antheraea polyphemus caterpillar. Wikipedia has a decent page about their lifecycle. If the weather turns cold, the pupa will overwinter inside the cocoon, awaiting warmer temperatures.
Fast forward to May, and I’m thinking that it’s not going to emerge. Last week I thought about removing the cocoon and chalking it up to Mother Nature. I’m glad I left it in place. When I came home from work late last week, I noticed the cocoon had a hole in the top (photo 3). I figured that the moth had emerged, and that was it. I was happy that the creature had survived and that I had resisting the urge to remove its temporary home.
I looked around and noticed that is was at the base of the door, just under the doorsill (photo 4). I was so excited! Apparently, it had only just emerged when I got home. As the moth adjusted to life outside the cocoon, it vibrated its wings. I guess it was stretching them out and letting them dry after eight months inside the cocoon.
I gently touched it and it dropped onto the doormat (photo 5). What is really striking about these moths are the eyespots on their wings. It’s part of their defense against birds and others who would eat them. I was able to get it to climb onto my index finger (photo 6). This should give you a sense of scale, with a wingspan of about 6”. I tried to put it on my neighbor’s bush and it flew away! I was able to witness its maiden flight.