I've been given a couple of imperial moth cats that other people found wandering around. They were looking for a place to pupate, so I just gave them loose, clean dirt, and they went right under! So I don't know the answer to your question, but if it were me, I'd leave it alone - it may even pupate right there, and any day now you'll see one end of the big thing! MissSherry

Susanne, you've got the Latin name turned around....it's Datana major. :-) These busy little pests turn into a rather plain brown moth, sodbuster. But regardless of that fact, if you value your azaleas, you had better get in there and remove those eating machines! They won't sting or bite, so just pick them off and fling them somewhere where your lazy birds can manage to find them.

Thanks to you both for your responses. I have received a number of comments and while they are similar, I am getting a better sense of how to approach this in my book. So, much appreciation for your comments. This is a great web site! My best. Shari

If you want to feed them by potted milkweed, consider growing it in pots small enough to move by hand. I grow tropical in 1 gal pots and switch it out if only feeding a few. Of course, a larger pot could still be moved by hand, too. Other ways to offer milkweed is to cut stems and keep in water or if using really large leaves, pinned to a ribbon suspended from the top of the cage. No matter how I offer the milkweed or which type of milkweed I use, I do house them in net enclosures made for this type of use. You can either leave it outside in a protected area or keep inside. Made of proper netting designed for this purpose will insure the little cats are protected from predators. Monarch cats frequently move about so I'd think you would want some type of enclosure no matter where you raise them. You can get fairly good sized rearing cages for between 12-50 dollars that can be sanitized easily between rearings. I have found the ones with side zippers are easier to use with Monarchs because they generally hang/form their J from the top of the enclosure. If opening from the top, you can see how that would create problems. I also tried some of the black ones last season and find I like the black netting better because I can see through/into it more easily. Thank you for growing milkweed for the Monarchs and for protecting the little cats... Mary Butterfly rearing cages Butterfly and Moth Terrarium / Parasitoid-Proof Cage/Habitat