Polyphemus moth

By Kathy Bildner

In March I brought a cocoon of a Polyphemus Moth into my house. I found it in the backyard on a bittersweet vine that grows up my silver maple tree. I knew what it was because last spring I did this same thing.

Mid April it emerged from its winter metamorphosis. It hung onto the side of the cocoon drying and expanding its wings. It did this for hours and by bedtime was still not ready to fly. I put it out on the back porch. I figured it would be gone by morning. As you all know, moths fly at night. My moth did not leave.

In the morning it was still there and it had company. They stayed all day and left the next night.