Moths Remember Lessons Learned While Caterpillars

[Mona Miller]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... emory.html
Moths Remember Lessons Learned While Caterpillars

I wonder whether they will remember the long talks that I have had about how much they eat. I was looking at one of my huge Polyphemus moths today and it had something near its mouth. On closer inspection I found that it was a piece of a leaf. It skin looked so tight that it seemed if it ate another bit it might pop. Many have started to make cocoons. I think there is enough time in my area for them to go through another cycle.

[sbannister]

Mona,

I love that article. I always ask my new butterflies if they remember when they were caterpillars and I fed them. (No, they don't answer back, so I'm not totaly nuts!) But I wonder if, when they emerge with wings, they are surprised that they can now fly!

[Mona Miller]

There's a good book about their instincts:
Gotta Go! Gotta Go!
http://www.samswope.org/work5.htm