Edie’s Garden—A Place to Discover Nature

Posted on July 19, 2015 by barb

By Barb Elliot

Wildlife is abundant in Edie’s yard. She finds birds, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bugs,

Monarch newly emerged and ready for release. Raised from eggs laid on Edie’s Butterfly Milkweed. © Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.

beetles, bees, wasps, flies, and more – creatures she loves – living among her native plants.

It wasn’t always this way. I saw the yard when Edie moved to this ¾-acre property in 2007. It was mostly turf grass. Except for a few native trees (Black Cherry, Red Maple, White Pine), no native plants grew here. Consequently, we observed few birds—just an occasional robin or starling—no other wildlife. She knew she could transform her lifeless property into a healthy habitat for wildlife by reducing the lawn and planting native plants. It could become a place where she could discover, learn, and enjoy nature.

To create a healthy ecosystem on her property she wanted to:

Plant a diversity and multitude of native plants
Offer conditions for birds and other creatures to thrive and reproduce
Provide year-round food sources, water, cover, and places to raise young for wildlife
Welcome lots of birds—certainly hummingbirds
Create a place of beauty where she could be immersed in nature
Learn the species of flora and fauna and how they interact and depend on each other
Leave a legacy of nature for future generations with long-lived trees and shrubs

Gradually, year by year, she has succeeded in creating this haven for wildlife. Eight years later I see thousands of native plants. They include perennials, grasses, vines, ferns, and woody plants, i.e. shrubs and trees. She planted densely, letting the plants touch each other as they do in the wild. Her canopy trees are young, but the oaks and others will be massively productive for wildlife for decades. Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, and Shadbush are already filling the understory. The mature shrubs like Spicebush, Elderberry, and several viburnum species are now luxuriant. At the ground

Red Milkweed Beetles eat plants in the milkweed family. The beetles are protected by the milkweed’s toxins and the black and red colors. © Edie Parnum. click to enlarge.

level perennials, vines, ferns, sedges, and grasses, are profuse. This diversity of plants offer nuts, seeds, berries, nectar, and pollen. Even the foliage of the native plants is indirectly a source of food. Insects eat the leaves and become food for birds and other creatures.

Birds now find what they need to live and thrive. They eat the fruits, nuts, seeds, and nectar produced by the yard’s native plants. Resident and migrating birds eat the insects hosted by her native plants. For example, Carolina

Chickadees can locate the 6, 000-plus caterpillars required to feed their young. Of course, no pesticides are ever used.

Edie has added other features for birds. She installed nest boxes for cavity-nesting House Wrens and Tree Swallows. She allows fallen leaves to lie in many places. Eastern Towhees and Brown Thrashers rummage in this leaf litter to find insects. Carolina Wrens

Trumpet Honeysuckle, a well-behaved vine with hummingbird-attracting red tubular flowers. © Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.

often locate their insect delicacies in the brush pile. On a snag (dead tree) woodpeckers, including a Pileated Woodpecker, forage for insects in the decaying wood. A Trumpet Vine grows on this snag and attracts hummingbirds seeking nectar from its flowers. A bird bath and small pond offer birds water. The bird feeders supply a small proportion of food needed by some of the birds. Many, many birds (106 species) love this yard.

Her meadow, in my opinion, is the crown jewel of her property. It is chock full of colorful perennials and grasses. Birds forage for seeds in late summer, fall, and winter. Numerous butterflies (30 species so far), bees, beetles, and other pollinators are active on flowers

Edie’s Meadow in late summer. Flowers attract butterflies, moths, and other insect pollinators. © Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.

blooming from April through October. Even at night the meadow is alive with moths, beetles, and other insects and spiders. Aiming a flashlight into the dense meadow plants, she can see the tiny, shining eyes of moths and other insects. Bumble bees, too, sleep on the flower heads, resting for the next day’s work.

Edie has created a paradise for herself as well as the creatures that call her yard home. With binoculars and camera, she frequently takes nature walks around the yard. The birds, whether eating, preening, feeding young, are always interesting. Mating foxes are less expected. Mating Garter Snakes, too. Even

Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar on Sassafras, one of its host plants.© Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.

better, she loves to discover a caterpillar eating leaves. When she locates other tiny creatures—bees, beetles, wasps, and others—she takes their photos. At night she uses lights to attract moths. She photographs these creatures, too.

Using the photos of insects, she can usually make identifications and then figure out their role in this ecosystem. What plants do they depend on? What plants depend on them? What do they eat? Who eats them? Are they parasites? Predators?

The possibilities for discovery are endless. Mostly, she revels in success of the healthy ecosystem she has created.

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Nature Discovery Day, August 29, 2015

Edie enjoys showing her garden with its native plants, birds, butterflies, moths and other creatures to nature-loving friends. On August 29th she will host Nature Discovery Day. Throughout the day you can explore her yard, discover nature in action, and learn about habitat gardening. Guided walks for children and adults will be offered, too. In the evening it’ll be Moth Night.

This event will be for a limited audience by invitation only. She’s inviting Backyards for Nature blog readers and their interested family and friends. Save the date and watch for an invitation coming to you in late July or early August.

Prime Plants for Nature: Backyards for Nature 2014 Native Plant Awards

Posted on May 5, 2014 by barb

By Edie Parnum

Each year we select two native plants with exceptional ability to support wildlife. These plants will contribute significantly to the web of life in your yard. They host insects, offer nectar and pollen, and produce fruits, seeds, or nuts. Birds, butterflies, and other insects and animals will feed and prosper. Most provide shelter and nesting places, too. Our selections, all native to southeastern Pennsylvania, are easy to grow and readily available at native plant nurseries or native plant sales. Our Prime Plants make attractive additions to your landscape. We offer awards in two categories: Trees and Shrubs and Perennials.

Our selections for the 2014 Prime Plants for Nature Awards are:

Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana

Wildlife Value: This small evergreen tree is a powerhouse for nature. Yellow-rumped

Cedar Waxwing Eating Cedar Cones. Photo © Howard Eskin. Click to enlarge.

Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, and Northern Mockingbird are among the 54 species of birds that eat its long-persisting berry-like cones during the cold months. Cedar Waxwings areso-named because they’re fond of cedar cones. The foliage hosts the Juniper Hairstreak butterfly, a vulnerable species in Pennsylvania, and several species of moths such as the Curve-lined Angle. Song Sparrows and other

Juniper Hairstreak. Photo courtesy of and © Scott Pippen.

Juniper Hairstreak. Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Pippen. Click to enlarge.

birds use the dense foliage for nesting places and shelter. Don’t be tempted to buy the similar-looking Leyland Cypress, a non-native that offers little for wildlife.

Growing Conditions: The Eastern Red Cedar tolerates a wide variety of soils and dry to moist growing conditions. It prefers a sunny spot. These trees are either male or female. Only the female trees produce fruits, but you’ll also need a male for pollination.

Screech Owl in Barb’s Eastern Red Cedar. Photo © Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.

By planting at least three of these trees, you will enhance their wildlife value. A row of cedars will provide dense shelter for birds. From the human perspective, the cedars can offer privacy. If planted on the north side of your house, they will create a windscreen.

Appearance: This evergreen has a pleasing conical shape. It grows at a moderate rate (1-2 feet per year) and reaches 15-40 feet at maturity.

Eastern Red Cedar Trees.

Short-toothed Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum muticum

Wildlife Value: This perennial is a magnet for pollinators. Butterflies, bees, wasps, and flies are attracted to the copious nectar and pollen this lovely plant produces. Because it

Red-banded Haristreeak nectaring on Mountain Mint. Photo © Edie parnum. Click to enlarge.

Red-banded Hairstreak nectaring on Mountain Mint. Photo © Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.

flowers over a long period of time, it may host thousands of visits by pollinators each season. With this plant in your yard, you can introduce children to pollination and teach them not to be afraid of bees and wasps.

Growing Conditions: Mountain Mint is a tough plant and will grow well in dry to moist soil in full to part-sun. Like other members of the mint family, it spreads but can easily be controlled, especially early in the growing season. It’s easy to transplant and share with other native plant gardeners. This perennial is deer-resistant, too.

Appearance: Mountain Mint grows to about 3-feet tall. Although the numerous flowers are small and inconspicuous, the foliage is an attractive silvery grey. The leaves complement other brightly colored flowers in the garden and in flower arrangements, too. This plant’s attractiveness is enhanced by the beautiful butterflies and other pollinating insects that visit.

Video © Barb Elliot. Pollinators visiting Short-toothed Mountain Mint. To see pollinator activity, click on symbol in lower right for full-screen view. Then click play symbol in lower left. May take several seconds to load. Turn on speakers for audio.

Plant these and other Backyards for Nature Prime Plants, and nature will flourish abundantly in your yard.

Milkweeds for Monarchs – 2014

Posted on April 7, 2014 by barb

By Barb Elliot

“The lowest numbers of Monarchs ever recorded”

“Monarch migration at risk of disappearing”

This is the devastating news about Monarchs over-wintering in Mexico. These Monarchs migrated last fall from eastern portions of the U.S. and Canada to reach their historic Mexican wintering grounds. Each year scientists count the number of acres of trees where the Monarchs cluster during their winter stay in Mexico. This winter Monarchs covered just 1.7 acres — a significant decline from the previous low of 2.9 acres.

Male Monarch in Barb’s yard. Photo © Barb Elliot

Loss of milkweed is the primary reason for the steep decline in Monarch numbers. Milkweeds are the only plant Monarch caterpillars can eat. Millions of acres of milkweed habitat have disappeared in the mid-west due to the use of genetically modified (GMO) corn and soy crops. Farmers spray their fields with Roundup, and the crops survive. However, this herbicide kills the other plants like milkweed that previously grew in and around crops. Since these Roundup Ready crops came into use over the last 15 years, almost 80% of milkweeds in the mid-west have disappeared. Monarch population decreases have correlated in lock step with the loss of milkweed. Milkweed habitat is also lost due to development and mowing of roadsides. Extreme weather over the past few years in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada has also contributed to Monarch losses. Cold snaps, heat waves, droughts and heavy rains have also taken a toll on the Monarchs and milkweeds.

Monarch laying egg on Butterfly Milkweed. Photo @ Barb Elliot.

As a result, last summer we Monarch-lovers saw few, if any, Monarchs. With these steep declines, we’ll surely see even fewer this summer. However, Monarch experts say that the Monarch population can bounce back – probably not to the high levels of the 1990s, but to a lower “new normal”. To improve their numbers, Monarchs need MORE milkweed.

That’s where we come in. We Monarch-lovers must plant more milkweeds this year. The Monarchs, fewer in numbers now, will need quantities of milkweeds to find the plants easily and lay their eggs. Also, milkweeds are very important plants in the web of life and provide high quality nectar for a variety of other important pollinators.

Monarch caterpillar on Barb’s Swamp Milkweed. Photo © Barb Elliot.

Let’s keep the welcome mat out for Monarchs! To that end, we are selling Butterfly Milkweed and Swamp Milkweed this year for only $2 a plant. Plant some milkweeds to help the Monarchs. If you already have some, plant even more! Plant them in containers, too. Talk to family, friends, and neighbors about the need. Get permission to plant them at a community park, church, business, roadway, or open space, too.

Now is the time for YOU to help the beautiful Monarchs survive for generations to come.

Milkweed Sale Information

Cost: $2 per plant. Cash only. Money collected above our actual costs will be donated to Monarch Joint Venture, a partnership of organizations working to conserve the monarch migration.

Plants Description: Plants are landscape plugs with well-developed (about 5”) root systems. When in bloom, they look like this:

Butterfly Milkweed Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) (Asclepias incarnata)

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Photo © Barb Elliot.

Minimum Order: 5 plants of one species only. That is, 5 Butterfly Milkweed or 5 Swamp Milkweed. Not 3 of one species and 2 of the other.

Number of Plants: Plants will be sold in multiples of 5 per species only, e.g. 10, 15, 30

Maximum Order: None. However, supplies depend on availability from our wholesaler. Plants will be reserved based on the order in which orders are received.

Order Deadline: Orders must be received no later than April 30, 2014..

Pickup Date & Time: Saturday, May 31^st, 2014 – 10 AM to 3 PM. Sorry, no alternate pickup times can be arranged.

Pickup Location: Roberts Elementary School, 889 Croton Rd, Wayne, PA 19087 For Directions, click here

General Planting Recommendations:
1. Plant in clusters, preferably at least 5 plants per cluster to attract passing Monarchs.
2. Plant 12” apart.
3. For more detailed planting instructions and other ways to help Monarchs, click title: Planting and Caring for Your Milkweeds.*

If you have any problems ordering or questions, send an email to info@backyardsfornature.org

Order Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation email within 7 days from info@backyardsfornature.org. Please set your email filter to accept email from this address. If you do not get a confirmation email within 7 days, send an email to: info@backyardsfornature.org

Fall: Time for Planting Trees and Shrubs

Posted on November 1, 2012 by barb

By Edie Parnum

I thrust my spade into a patch of my lawn. It’s fall, and I’m planting a 4-foot Chestnut Oak. As I dig, I imagine this young tree next spring with its new green leaves. Even as a young sapling, it will host insects and birds. Looking into the future, I imagine this stately native tree a century from now. It has given life to thousands of birds and other animals.

Edie planting a Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) sapling. Photo © Barb Elliot

My neighbors, I’ve noticed, aren’t thinking about spring. They are clearing their yards of leaves and the dead vegetation from last year’s ornamental plants. They are putting this unwanted garden debris out on the curb along with the cocoons and eggs of next year’s insects. They are getting ready for winter. Fall is the best time for planting trees and shrubs, any time before the ground freezes. During the autumn rains, the new plants aren’t asleep. They’re putting energy into their roots for a spurt of growth next spring.This fall, as usual, I will plant several trees and shrubs. When I bought this ¾-acre property five years ago, it was mostly grass with just a few trees, mostly non-natives. Since then I’ve planted 39 native trees and 45 native shrubs. It’s still not enough.

I keep planting native woody plants because they support wildlife. Certainly non-native woodies offer fruits birds will eat—witness the bird-spread proliferation of invasives like Multiflora Rose, Burning Bush, and Japanese Barberry. Natives, however, offer fruits of optimum size and superior nutrition. The fruits of the dogwoods, blueberries, winterberries, viburnums, spicebush, and sassafras I’ve planted ripen just in time to nourish hungry migrating birds in fall. Now in late October most of the berries are gone—consumed by thrushes, catbirds, mockingbirds, waxwings, and warblers.

The main reason I plant native woodies, however, is for the caterpillars and other insects these plants support. I’m inspired by Doug Tallamy, Professor and Chair of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. His research shows

The caterpillar of the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly uses Spicebush or Sassafras as its host plant. USFWS Photo by Ryan Hagerty.

that native plants host 29 times more of the native insects essential for our birds. After all, 96% of terrestrial birds feed their young exclusively insect food.

This year to augment what I’m already growing, I’ll plant ten small trees and shrubs. I’m planting the Chestnut Oak, Quercus prinus (according to Tallamy, oaks host 534 species of caterpillars); American Elm, Ulmus Americana (hosts 213); and Pawpaw, Asimina triloba (host plant for Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, a species I covet for my yard butterfly list).

Planting a tree or shrub is easy. For my Chestnut Oak and the other trees and shrubs, I don’t need to dig a huge hole. I make my hole only as deep as the soil in the plant container and twice as wide. After putting the plant into the hole, I make sure the soil line of the plant is level with the ground. Then I use the soil that was removed from the hole to fill in around the plant. Because my oak is a local native adapted to our soil, I am not tempted to add special topsoil, fertilizer, or any other enrichment. That would stimulate fast but weak growth. A hole filled with artificially enriched soil encourages the roots to stay confined rather than to reach into the ground below for nourishment. Next, I push down on the loose dirt with my hands, but avoid stomping on it with my feet. I spread a one-inch layer of my compost (last year’s leaves and garden debris) on top to provide some extra humus not available in the turf grass. Then I give my oak a good watering. That’s it for this tree. I’m ready to plant more.

Three-year-old Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) with cage to prevent deer browse. Photo © Edie Parnum

Newly planted trees and shrubs may need extra water. During any week without significant rain, I put a leaky watering can next to each plant and let the water drip slowly into the soil. A 1-2” layer of mulch will help retain the moisture, but I never let the mulch touch the trunk. Once established, these woody plants, situated appropriately for light and moisture, should thrive without any additional help from me.

The trees and shrubs I plant are usually small. They are cheaper and suffer less transplant shock than a big tree or shrub. These smaller saplings start to grow more quickly and in a few years usually out-compete larger nursery stock. To save money, I also frequently transplant volunteer trees and shrubs in my yard to more appropriate locations. Some of my shrubs—virburnums, for instance—send out shoots that I dig up and plant elsewhere. I also accept gifts from my native plant gardening friends. As I say, there’s always room for more. Anyway, I’m not growing ornamental specimens. The plants can touch each other and offer extra shelter, just as they do in the wild.

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) – flagged shoots are ready to transplant. Photo © Barb Elliot

My trees and shrubs are still small, but they already support birds and other wildlife. Next spring I’ll see warblers and other hungry migrants eating caterpillars on the leaves of my native woody plants. The remaining areas of grass are begging to be planted with additional native trees and shrubs. Next fall I won’t resist planting more.

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For Doug Tallamy’s list of woody plants supporting butterfly and moth caterpillars, click here.

Trees and Shrubs on Edie’s Property
Botanical Name	Common Name	Wildlife Value
*Trees*
Acer rubrum	Red Maple	L, F
Aesculus pavia	Red Buckeye	L, N
Amelanchier canadensis	Serviceberry/ Juneberry	L. F
Asimina triloba	Pawpaw	L, F
Betula lenta, B. nigra	Sweet Birch, River Birch	L, F
Celtis occidentalis	Hackberry	L, F
Cercis canadensis	Eastern Redbud	L, N
Cornus alternifolia, C.florida	Pagoda Dogwood, Flowering Dogwood	L, F
Ilex opaca	American Holly	L, F
Juniperus virginiana	Eastern Red Cedar	L, F
Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip Poplar	L, N, F
Magnolia virginiana	Sweetbay Magnolia	L
Nyssa sylvatica	Black Gum/ Tupelo	L, F
Pinus strobus	Eastern White Pine	L, F
Prunus serotina	Black Cherry	L, F
Quercus alba,Q. coccinea, Q. pinus, Q. rubra	White Oak, Scarlet Oak, Chestnut Oak, Red Oak	L, F
Sassafras albidum	Sassafras	L, F
Tsuga canadensis	Eastern Hemlock	L,F
Shrubs
Aronia melanocarpa.	Black Chokeberry	L, F
Clethra alnifolia	Sweet Pepperbush	N
Cornus racemosa, C. amonum	Gray Dogwood, Silky Dogwood	L, N, F
Hydrangea arborescens, H. quercifolia	Wild Hydrangea, Oakleaf Hydrangea	N
Ilex verticillata	Winterberry Holly	F
Myrica pensylvanica	Bayberry	L, F
Rosa virginiana	Wild or Pasture Rose	L, F
Sambucus canadensis	American Elder	L, F, N
Vaccinium corymbosum	Highbush Blueberry	L, F, N
Viburnum dentatum, V. lentago,V. nudum, V. prunifolium	Arrowwood Viburnum, Nannyberry, Possumhaw, Black Haw	L, F
L = Leaves support moth and butterfly caterpillars and other leaf-eating insects that are eaten by birds
N = Nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators
F = Food products such as berries, seeds, nuts, buds, and pollen for birds, mammals, and pollinators

Places to buy native plants:

Raising Monarchs

Posted on August 20, 2012 by barb

By Barb Elliot

In mid July, I discovered Monarch eggs on my Swamp Milkweed.

A few days later I found three 1/8-inch caterpillars, probably a day or so old. I took them inside to raise them. Over the course of a month, I watched the amazing transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to adult butterfly. Watching the life stages of a Monarch rejuvenates my awe at the wonders of nature.

Once inside the aquarium container, two of the caterpillars ate Swamp Milkweed and eliminated “frass”, signs that they were healthy. The third

caterpillar, however, never moved and soon died. I was reminded that caterpillars’ lives are fragile and often very short. Very few caterpillars of any species, perhaps less than one in a hundred, survive to become butterflies. The threats are legion: bacterial and fungal infections, predatory insects, spiders, birds, or other creatures looking to gulp down a neatly wrapped package of protein, plus parasites such as wasps that deposit eggs on a caterpillar so their larvae can eat the caterpillar from within.Though my yard is a certified Monarch Waystation providing optimal conditions for Monarch caterpillars and butterflies, life is tough for these creatures. By rearing some indoors, I can give them a measure of safety.

A week later, at day eight of their lives, the caterpillars stopped eating temporarily, left the milkweed for the side of the container and remained motionless for a number of hours. They were ready to shed their skin, which becomes too tight as they grow. Each shed its tiny head capsule separately and then wiggled out of its skin. This was one of five molts. Then, it was back to eating more milkweed. After all, most Monarch caterpillars increase their weight about 2,700 times from egg to chrysalis!

Two days later, I noticed only one caterpillar in the container. Alarmed, I searched and found the escapee a few feet away on my upright camera lens. I quickly returned it to the container. It moved to the top and wove a silk “button” on the screen cover. Soon it hung with its body in a “J” formation, its hind end suspended from the button. A couple of hours later, the second caterpillar was also hanging in this J shape.

Click highlighted text to see video

In the morning I watched closely for signs that the 11-day old caterpillars were about to metamorphose into the chrysalis or pupa. Just before the transformation, each began rocking and straightening out slightly.The antenna-like tentacles drooped and looked almost segmented. Then, the skin began to split at the head end. Each caterpillar wriggled furiously as the skin split up its full length and then fell away.

At first, each pupa was yellowish green and wider at the bottom than the top. Gradually the color changed to emerald green, the shape became wider at the top and the distinctive, jewel-like gold and black markings appeared on the surface of each chrysalis. It is while in the chrysalis or pupal stage that a caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis and changes into a butterfly.

Nine days later, I noticed a few dark marks on the chrysalises, and by the tenth evening, the orange and black of forming wings were visible through the clear shell of each pupa. While I was asleep both butterflies emerged from their chrysalises. Early the next morning I saw two beautiful, fresh butterflies – one male and one female.

They were hanging from their former homes, drying and occasionally pumping their wings. I waited a few hours so they would be completely dry before I took the container outside. With a little nudging, each climbed on my finger and quickly flew off to the top of a tree where I lost sight of them.

I like to think that they stayed in my yard to nectar on flowers I grow for butterflies. Hopefully, they found mates and the female laid eggs. This next generation of Monarch butterflies, the last of this summer, will go through the same marvelous transformations and then fly 2,000 miles to their over-wintering grounds in central Mexico. That same generation will fly north into Texas in the spring of 2013 and begin the annual succession of Monarch generations that re-populate central and eastern North America each spring and summer. I hope to host Monarchs in my yard next year, raise some more caterpillars indoors, and once again experience the thrill of watching one of the true wonders of nature.

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For information on how you can help Monarchs and/or get your yard certified, click here: Monarch Waystation

Stay tuned for a future blog with more info on Monarchs and a national effort to help them.

Below is a list of the native milkweed plants that Barb grows in her yard.

Locally Native Milkweed Plants**
Botanical Name	Common Name	Bloom Color & Period	Light & Soil Conditions
Asclepias incarnata	Swamp Milkweed	Pink flowers; June & July	Part to full sun, moist soil
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly Milkweed	Orange flowers; June to August	Sun, dry to average soil
Asclepias verticillata	Whorled Milkweed	White flowers; July & August	Sun, dry to average soil
Asclepias purpurascens	Purple Milkweed	Dark pink/purple flowers; June & July	Part to full sun, dry/ average/moist soil
Asclepias syriaca*	Common Milkweed	Pink flowers; June & July	Sun, dry soil
*Spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes; best for large areas with other flowers and grasses
**All are deer resistant

A Magnificent Moth

Posted on June 7, 2012 by barb

by Barb Elliot

When I was a ten year old kid I “saved” a Polyphemus moth my father had almost accidentally killed while pruning our hedge. Actually, I didn’t save it—in truth, quite the opposite. I captured it and put it into a collecting jar. After it died I mounted and framed it. Enamored with butterflies and moths, I then hung it in my bedroom along with the rest of my collection. Over the years I have displayed this beautiful, six-inch moth in my various homes. However, I never saw one in the wild again until this spring – more than 50 years later.

Male Polyphemus Moth (Dan Mackinnon @ fcps.edu)

On May 20th, a spectacular male Polyphemus moth just like that first one emerged from a cocoon in my yard. I had discovered the large cocoon hanging from a Spicebush twig in early March. I couldn’t tell what type of moth might be overwintering in the cocoon, but I checked it often, hoping to see what would emerge.

: Cocoon in my yard, 3/7/2012

When the time came, I almost missed it because it hung several inches from the cocoon, which appeared to be intact except for a small hole in the top. As the moth hung among the leaves, only the under wings, which look like dead leaves, were visible. I would have liked to see the more striking upper sides of the wings, but did not disturb it for a better look. This moth was to remain completely free — and in fact it was gone by the next day.

: Newly emerged Polyphemus Moth in my yard, 5/20/12

It likely flew off that night in hot pursuit of a female, using its large, feathery antenna to detect the powerful sex hormone scents (pheromones) a female emits to attract a mate. Polyphemus males can detect and fly to females that are miles away. The moths survive for about a week, living only to mate and lay eggs. In fact, the adults don’t have mouthparts and can’t eat or drink.

A Polyphemus caterpillar, however, is an eating machine.

: Polyphemus moth late stage caterpillar (buglifecycle.com)

In the five to six weeks it takes until it is ready to pupate and spin its cocoon, it increases its weight by more than 10,000 times and grows to three inches long and ¾ inch in diameter. The caterpillar then wraps itself in a leaf and encases itself in silk thread spun from its mouth or it may crawl down and spin its cocoon on the ground. A cocoon wrapped in a leaf may stay on the tree or shrub all winter as “mine” did, or it may fall to the ground in the autumn. This is an important reason not to rake up the leaves that fall under your trees and shrubs.

As a result of their nocturnal habits and since so few make it to adulthood, not many of us ever get to see these beautiful creatures. Birds and mammals search out the protein-rich caterpillars, and few caterpillars escape the many parasites that prey on them. If you provide host plants that the caterpillars eat, you can increase your chances of seeing one and help to increase their chances of survival. Polyphemus moth caterpillars eat the leaves of a variety of native trees, including Oaks (Quercus), Maple (Acer), Birches (Betula), Hickories (Carya), Walnut (Juglans), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), and American Elm (Ulmus americana). I’m not sure which of these plants “my” caterpillar ate, as I have five of these species in my yard.

The Polyphemus moth is in the family of large showy silk moths native to southeastern Pennsylvania. Others species include the Cecropia (the largest moth in North America), Luna, Io, Imperial, Promethea, Tuliptree, Rosy Maple, and Royal Walnut Moth. These moths also eat a variety of native trees and shrubs that would make great additions to a yard.

One last thing you can do to help the Polyphemus and other moths survive and reproduce successfully is to keep outdoor lights turned off as much as possible. Any lights at night can “capture” moths, interrupt their search for mates, exhaust them, and make them easy targets for predators.

: Newly emerged Polyphemus Moth with cocoon, 5/20/12

I hope you too may have the exciting experience of seeing a Polyphemus or one of the other showy silk moths in your yard!