Time-lapse Sphinx moth egg hatches under microscope

A tiny 1/32" long egg of the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth [Arctonotus lucidus] hatches under the microscope. The larva can be clearly seen though the transparent eggshell as it chews its way out. The magnification is 100x and the event is presented in 72x time-lapse. The music is "Blown Glass" from the "Ruins II" CD by TECHNICIAN. (c)2007 JCMDI.COM, and the Hi-Res version of this video is available on DVD at http://technician.jcmdi.com/lepdvd01/lepdvd01.html for details.

Category:

Pets & Animals

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• time-lapse
• time
• lapse
• timelapse
• sphinx
• moth
• egg
• ova
• hatch
• Arctonotus
• lucidus
• microscope
• jcmdi
• technician
• music
• larva
• DVD
• jcmdi.com
• santa
• clarita
• JCMDI
• stopmotion
• close-up
• science
• documentary
• study
• worm
• caterpillar
• chewing
• emerging
• exiting
• film
• video

[The3EpicNinjas]

where do you get the caterpillars or do find them

[jcmegabyte]

Yes - I go out in the field and find nearly all of the eggs, caterpillars and adult butterflies/moths that I work with :-)

[The3EpicNinjas]

@jcmegabyte what plants do you mostly find the sphinx caterpillars on?

[jcmegabyte]

It really depends on the species... These lucidus eggs came from adults ovipositing on Primrose. Carolina Sphinx can be easily found on tomato plants (known as tomato worms), and at the right time of year, White-Lined Sphinx larvae can be found crawling on and eating just about anything in my area! XD It really help to get to know the species found in your area, and their host plants :-)

[chocofan4eva]

is it EATING the egg?

[jcmegabyte]

Yep - all butterfly and moth caterpillars eat their way out of the eggshell, and many will eat the entire thing after they are out. Apparently the shell makes a good first meal - full of protein and such. =)

[ChevyAdrian1]

lol for the moth at the end.... "YES I'M FREE BITCHES.. I'M... * looks at scientist* WTF WHO ARE YOU!?

[cocoapuffaddict]

can we say: claustrophobia...

[TheOffensiveuser]

Disgusting how everything is born from a slimy beginning... EVEN THE SPERM IS SLIMY! WTF?!?!!

[jcmegabyte]

Thanks for checking it out!

[chaotic136969]

that was intense....

[jcmegabyte]

I'm glad you're enjoying the show - thanks so much for the view and nice comment! =)