Silked on 3rd instar

[applestar]

This morning, I found a 3rd instar had silked itself onto the top of the container.
They usually molt up there but I don't think they spin silk all around in a pad then cover themselves (not a thick one but a gossamar hammock like Silver Spotted Skipper larvae silking leaves together -- or silking onto the container. (3rd instar community container and other containers ARE clear, and there ARE Silver Spotted skippers in a couple of containers next to this one.... Maybe this one said, "Oh! That's looks like a good idea!" )

Do you suppose this one's just extra nervous about falling off -- all 3 inches to the bottom of the container?

[Mona Miller]

Boy, I wish you could send us a picture. That sounds interesting. I've known them in nature to actually silk some leaves together over their heads to hide their chrysalis. Are there other caterpillars in the container? Some times the other caterpillars will silk as they pass by another caterpillar.

[applestar]

Oh, I'm sorry Mona. I thought it was something cool and different, but one that only *I* hadn't seen or noticed before. I fully expected you to come back and say they do that all the time....



It never occurred to me to take a picture though it had stayed there nice and cozy next few times I looked. Now, it's finished molting and is munching away. There's a trace of the silk and an opening in the side where it came out. I wondered if it would eat the silk but it didn't though it seems to have eaten all of the shed skin.

[Mona Miller]

Ohhhh, I've never seen them make a bed of silk like that to molt. There's always a first time. I definitely, don't know every thing and I haven't seen every thing either. That's why we post our observation--we are all learning. I may have been doing this for 17 years, but that doesn't mean I've seen every thing. Glad the little fellow is okay.