The Amazing Sight of a Caterpillar Spinning his Cocoon

I was lucky to witness a 6-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) spinning his cocoon almost from the beginning, a process which took a couple of hours. Condensing it into a video of around 10 minutes was a difficult task. Some sections have been speeded up.
Watch him turn several times in his confinement , what he excretes at 5:18 and 8:11, and what he does with it.

Eclosion of the moth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEJ3ZsYurFA

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• 6-Spot
• Burnet
• Moth
• Butterflies
• Nature
• Insects
• Caterpillar
• Larva
• Cocoon
• Widderchen
• Schmetterlinge
• Falter
• Raupen

[Kuroiseki]

That was amazing!! Though I started feeling a bit clastophobic for it xD"

[rosmarinusofficialis]

@Kuroiseki I know what you mean. I was once wrapped up tightly at the health spa of a hotel on St Lucia. which was supposed to be good for relaxation. It got worse when my face was also covered with just a hole big enough for breathing. Then I was left alone in the room for what should have been abt. 10 mins. or so. After abt. 2 mins. I panicked and shouted. Never again.

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[ghostxflower]

nature sure works wonderfully :) thank for the video!!

[rosmarinusofficialis]

@ghostxflower Thank you for watching and your kind comments.

[TwistedPopCandy]

Thats amazing!!!! i found a 5 spot burnet today in my garden (moth form). Are they rare? btw this video was posted on my birthday LOL weird!!!

[rosmarinusofficialis]

@TwistedPopCandy The day-flying Burnet moth, 5 or 6 spot, is not rare, but you do have to provide the right food plant. In our garden the 6-spot love the knapweed. Incidentally, I have just come back from a butterfly holiday in Hungary where I saw my first 5-spot Burnet (but no 6 spots!), as well as Transparent and Forester Burnets.

[TwistedPopCandy]

@rosmarinusofficialis WOW im sure you enjoyed your holiday, thanks!

[rosmarinusofficialis]

@richardclaxtoncni Thank you, Richard.

[richardclaxtoncni]

What a fantastic find never seen one build a cocoon before, wonderful

Best wishes Richard

[rosmarinusofficialis]

@sigma1920 I am glad you liked it. Yes, I think the excretions help to give stability to the lace-like first-stage lace cocoons. I did not collect this particular specimen, but I have had several in my house. Tonight I shall set up my new video camera which has a time lapse facility. Usually at 7 am they don't have their wings fully extended, so I reckon they start emerging at daybreak.