I love hearing from readers and especially love it when I can answer their questions.
Even more gratifying when I receive a follow up message鈥� even if it comes several months later.
One such instance, Kathy sent me a photo of a cocoon she came across while tidying up a potted plant last fall. She was hoping for an identification, fearing it was a wasp sac but not wanting to destroy it in case it was a beneficial creature.
Just as an aside: as much as we detest and even fear those pesky yellowjackets, European paper wasps and other members of the wasp family, they do have a purpose in our gardens. Not only do they assist with pollination, but they are also fierce predators of many truly unwanted pests. Often the paper wasps work right beside me on our azaleas. They hunt and eat the azalea sawfly larvae as I search and squish the destructive caterpillars.
Back to Kathy鈥檚 cocoon鈥� I assured her the cocoon was not a wasp sac and gave her a tentative identification that her find was possibly a polyphemus moth in the giant silk moth family. One species which is found in B.C. and throughout much of North America is Antheraea polyphemus.
Surprise, surprise! It turns out I was right as Kathy very thoughtfully sent me an email recently complete with photos of her newly emerged moth. Unfortunately, she gave it a wee shower not knowing it was still in the potted plants until it started flapping its now damp wings.
Hopefully, her moth dried out and was able to complete its life cycle purpose because adult polyphemus moths only live a total of four to seven days once they emerge from their cocoon.
It is interesting to note the males are capable of flying many kilometres in their search for a responsive female who is advertising her availability through pheromone scent release. The mere thought that a male may well fly great distances in as little as four days for his lone adult purpose in life is amazing. But it is quite likely there are females in his neighbourhood, and in enough numbers to satisfy his needs.
Like most moths, polyphemus moths are active at night. You will only see them if they, by chance, are resting on a wall, or if you happen to disturb their slumber amongst your plants. But they do stand out for their size alone with an incredible wingspan close to six inches. Shades of brown ranging from yellow to red adorns the upper side of their wings and the large oval eye spots 鈥� one on each hind wing鈥� with distinctive rings of yellow, blue and black are absolutely eye-catching. Truly one of the giants amongst the moths.
They are no slouches in their caterpillar stage either. By their fifth and final instar stage, they are about three inches long and bright green in colour with silvery white spots on their sides.
Now that you know what to look for in identifying this giant silk moth, keep your eyes peeled as the adults should be emerging from their diapause through the winter right about now. And keep a look out in late summer as there will likely be a second brood around that time.
As I said earlier, I do try to answer questions from readers. Unfortunately, there are some I cannot definitively answer鈥ike what plants will deer leave alone. Truth be told, while some of the plants labeled 鈥渄eer resistant鈥� may stand up to that label with the adults, they probably will not when it comes to the fawns. Like youngsters in all species, it seems everything goes into their mouths.
Leslie Cox co-owns Growing Concern Cottage Garden in Black Creek. Her website is www.duchessofdirt.ca
