Behavior of large harpies (Cerura vinula)

Community and Forum → Insects biology and faunistics → Behavior of large harpies (Cerura vinula)

paleonew, 28.06.2013 10:09

Good afternoon!
This year I decided to watch the big harpies. On a nearby aspen tree, I found nine caterpillars, some almost newborns, and a couple of weeks old. I fed them aspens, and they grew to adult larvae. The most interesting thing is that they began to pupate at different ages. The first to go into hibernation was the medium-sized harpy, which barely reached five centimeters, and the largest, nine-centimeter, pupated only two days later. What is the reason for this? I fed them well, they all always had fresh leaves, and I don't doubt it... After all, when the butterflies fly out next season, they will be different in size, or is it sexual dimorphism?
And another interesting observation - one of the harpies, medium in size, changed its color to burgundy the day before yesterday, which clearly indicates pupation. In the evening, she settled down on the bark and slowly began to weave a cocoon. What was my surprise when I found her eating yesterday morning, outside the half-finished cocoon. The color has not changed back, but even now it is sitting, actively eating aspen, apparently not going to pupate... Also interesting because of what so?

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