Cecropia Moth Project, Day 27

5th instar Cecropia caterpillars, bursting with flavor

Most of the Cecropia caterpillars are in the 5th instar stage now, with bulbous yellow horns and plump blueish bodies. The transition into this stage is pretty dramatic - the caterpillars shed a gross brownish layer that bunches up near their rear quarters (shown in the picture below).

5th instar Cecropia caterpillar with shed skin

As the caterpillars have grown, so has their frass. It is large and we are regularly clearing off the water tube stand and bottom paper towel.

5th instar Cecropia caterpillar flanked by two 4th instar fellows. This photo was taken two days ago and the 5th instar caterpillars have since taken on a bluer hue and rounder body shape (as shown in the other pictures).

We have a new technique for collecting maple leaves and we haven't been worrying so much about keeping up with the feeding. Oliver uses a welding rod to reach up and pull down small sections of branch that we place in a cup of water after returning home. We then pull individual leaves off as needed and place them in the water tubes. It's a great method, allowing us to collect more leaves at once. However, Oliver looks like a bit of a criminal creeping around residential streets at night with what looks like a crowbar in hand. If you're going to use this method, don't get shot.

5th instar Cecropia caterpillars. The one on the right is further behind.