Space Alien Caterpillar Update

When you find a creature that you cannot identify, email a photograph to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. They are smart and helpful.

"This is the caterpillar of a Cecropia Moth. This is a large species of silk moth. The caterpillar will eventually spin a large cocoon and pupate inside. It will spend the winter in the cocoon and hatch into a large, beautiful moth next Spring. The moth has 3-4 days to find a mate, lay eggs, then die. This species is not common in NC, but is found in the Sandhills and areas in the Piedmont and foothills." John Connors @ NC Museum of Natural Sciences

You may recall this caterpillar came off of my next-door-neighbor's wax myrtle. The bush came from Fuquay, but based on what John says, I'm guessing the bush's provenance was by way of the Sandhills, Piedmont or foothills.