It's most likely an azalea sphinx moth, bernergirl - they use viburnums and azaleas as host plants.
You don't need to do anything special with the pupa, just put in in a safe place for it to emerge.
I got a picture not too long ago of an adult azalea sphinx moth - this was the first adult I've seen, having only seen the cats on my native azaleas and viburnums -
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Sherry

Thank you MissSherry! There is an azalea about six feet away from the viburnum, so it was probably a happy camper!

Gosh, MissSherry, you're so good at id'ing the cocoons! I would have thought Snowberry Clearwing or Clearwing of some sort, but the spots are certainly a variation.

Susan

Thanks, Susan, it may very well be a clearwing, but I just figure it's most likely to be an azalea sphinx. The pupa also looks a lot like a tersa sphinx, but then I guess all the sphinx moth pupae looks something alike! :)
Sherry

Make sure you do NOT put pupae in container with leaves!!!! Once the sphinx has hatched, it will not need leaves, ans most importantly, the moisture and co2 from the leaves will "choke" the pupae. A container will be good for it though.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jeremy- Moths and Butterflies

I also put several "sticks" in with it so it can climb on them to inflate and dry the wings.

Susan

Hi--The leaves are dry; is that ok--they're not really respirating anymore. I put sticks in too. There is lots of air circulation.

I'm tempted to keep it just to see what it is; if it is a clearwing--I get the adults a lot.

Thanks for all of the input!

I'd definitely keep it, and I hope you'll post a picture so we can all see what it is, Bernergrrl!
My burrowing moth caterpillars routinely go "underground" in my terrarium, and I put dead leaves on top of the clean dirt - they've all emerged, so I don't think dead leaves hurt anything.
Sherry

Since it's already made a cocoon you can leave it exposed, without any dirt or leaves around it. It's only when you raise the caterpillars that you need about 4" of soil, etc., for them to bury in to form their cocoon. Or, you can use shredded paper towels. I've done this several times now, and it works great. They just make this little "tomb" and form their cocoon inside. Afterwards, I just open the tomb and put them back in the container without paper towels, and put some sticks in the container for them to climb on.

Susan

OK--Thank you--I was trying to mimic the conditions I found it in. Will definitely keep it and see exactly what it is!

It emerged today and looks like MissSherry's:

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Thanks for all of the help!

I think it's absolutely beautiful; it looks like Italian marble close up, and I love its doe-like eyes. It also was okay perching on my hand.

Thanks for posting the picture, Bernergrrl! It's gorgeous, and it sure looks like an azalea sphinx.
I found some cats on various native azaleas not too long after seeing the adult -
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Sherry

Excellent thread. i love it when you guys follow through with what you are raising. So informative!

Maryann

Wow - I love to raise the sphinx moths. Beautiful, BG! I don't have any native azaleas, just the commercial type cultivars, that I don't even know the names of - planted already when I moved in.

I tried to grow rhodies, but not successful at that AT ALL.

Aren't they fun, BG? I love their little arched thorax, furry heads, and big eyes.

Susan

MissSherry--That is such a beautiful picture--the cat looks translucent.

Susan, I didn't articulate to myself why I thought it was so cute--the arched thorax! They almost have a lionine aspect to them. I don't know what my azalea is--it was here too when I move in, but there's viburnum near it, and it was under the viburnum where I found the pupa.

Maryann, Thanks for the cheerleading! I agree about when the threads get updated--great learning. With MissSherry's picture we have just about the entire life cycle.

Take care everyone!

I'm so happy you kept us updated, bernergrrl. Gorgeous!

Edna