The Isabella Tiger Moth

Emilie caught a Wooly Bear caterpillar about 3 or 4 weeks ago that she kept in her insect bug cage. She would hold it and talk to it all the time. Approximately 2 - 2.5 weeks ago, and much to our surprise, it spun a cocoon (pupated).

Emilie called me at work on Friday, all excited, to tell me the cocoon has hatched. It emerged as the stunning Isabella Tiger Moth, which is a member of the Arctiidae family. There are many species of this moth, ours is the one pictured below - notice the handsome finger perch too. On Saturday we let it go and even though it was confined to a small cage, it surprised us as how far it was able to fly on it's maiden flight.

SFrye732_Blog archive - December 01, 2006 Wooly Bear posting