something ate my cecropia cat..I am so upset!

12 years ago

First time I have even seen one of these caterpillars and something fricking ate it :( I looked all over for another cat hoping there was more than one...nope.

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Comments (6)

christie_sw_mo
12 years ago
That's disappointing. : (
Are you sure it didn't just make a cocoon? It was the big one the you posted a photo of a few days ago right?
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
12 years ago
On Thursday, a friend called me. She told me she had a big imperial cat for me. I rushed over and got it. It was eating white pine. I put it on one of my pines inside a rearing sleeve. When I checked it on Sunday, something had eaten its way into the sleeve and the imperial was gone :(

Many moons ago, I had lots of cecropia cats and an upcoming vacation (don't remember anymore how many days I was going to be gone). Decided I had enough cocoons already so I did not bother getting a caterpillar sitter. I let all the cats go on the lilac I had been feeding them. Figured I'd reclaim them when I got home. When I returned, there was lots of frass on the ground but not a single caterpillar. I figure some predator found them and a feeding frenzy occurred.
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When a butterfly ecloses, it's probiscus is in two parts. Those two parts have to meld together in order to form one tube. Sounds like your BF was deformed in some way and was not going to make it no matter what you did. It's hard to lose them, I know. Those melanic BSTs I have are really having problems. I don't think I'll bring any of those in again. They probably should be euthanized. The cats are really pretty, but there is something genetically wrong with them. Your poor daughter! Bless her heart. I guess I'm getting used to the fact that some of them make it and others just don't. Susan
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I am so ready to throw in the in the towel and toss my plants!
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Such classic elegance--both CE and cabs. I think your cabs may have pushed me over the edge to get the creamy cabs I dream about. May I ask company & color? TIA! And, I can't wait to see your beautiful kitchen finished! PS Love the boys & bugs--I really miss those days with my 3 sons--always had bugs, snakes, frogs, lizards, and other critters around. Actually still have a leopard gecko who is now about 9 years old!
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I'm so upset but no-one else thinks it's a big deal!
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Comments (139)
Oh my goodness! I haven't been on here for awhile as it's been very hectic. I have at this point moved on from the kitchen cabinets. Dwelling on it is pointless and just makes me angry. Besides I've had other things on my mind (some of you may have seen my post regarding our backsplash disaster). Also, we noticed later that we didn't have any sockets on the island despite my having specified I wanted a socket on either side of my large island. KD said she didn't have anything in her notes about sockets on the island. Really??? And what do her notes say about the code for electrical outlets on a kitchen island to pass inspection????!!! Of course, there was NO room for us to add them in. Her solution: cut two of the drawer backs to shorten them, buy new shorter soft close rails for the now shortened drawers and then add sockets behind them. I. don't. think. so. We were left to sort that out on her own. Couldn't be bothered to deal with her anymore after that. Anyhows. I thought I'd give a quick update. I re-ordered the white drawer fronts and decided to leave the blue island drawers as is. The new fronts just arrived today and have yet to be installed. I still don't have any hardware on the blue island. I want it to be different but haven't really had time to properly look. I'll get there eventually. I think it's a good compromise. The drawers don't bother me as much on the island and I'm pretty certain that after a few months I won't notice it at all. Or as much ;)
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Tony G
12 years ago
those predators can be frustrating, for sure! I hope you find another "surprise" caterpillar soon. good luck, Tony
tomatoworm59
12 years ago
Squirrels and other rodents will chew right through any fabric and devour caterpillars which they love.
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
12 years ago
Sometimes my rearing sleeves end up touching the ground after a rain. You can bet the car that if it stays that way all night, some mammal will chew its way in and have caterpillars for dinner. I avoid low branches for that reason but when I'm running low on food, I use the low branches and hope it doesn't rain.
tomatoworm59
12 years ago
It's too easy to just suspend any sleeved, low branches as well. I've never had any problems with them touching the ground, but I was picky when I set them up. I use my lowest branches first.

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something ate my cecropia cat..I am so upset!

Comments (6)

christie_sw_mo

KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH

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Tony G

tomatoworm59

KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH

tomatoworm59

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