Usually when people find luna moth caterpillars, it's because they're through eating leaves and are traveling to find a place to make their cocoon. They can and do make it in a variety of places. Sometimes they stay in the tree whose leaves they'd been eating and make it on one of the branches. Sometimes they wrap up in leaves, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they make it on the ground or in a nearby tree. Regardless, at this point, it's most likely to overwinter in Missouri. Just keep it protected. I don't keep mine in air tight containers, because my common sense tells me that would encourage excessive moisture and the resulting mold. A plastic container needs some sticks or other rougher objects inside it that the moth can climb onto when it emerges - plastic is slippery, and the newly emerged moth would not likely form properly, since they need to hang to bring the fluids to the wings to expand them. Mine are in cages that are PVC frames with mesh coverings that are outside on my front porch - it's best to keep them outside so the moth will be more likely to emerge when spring occurs. The inside of a heated house is too warm, the moth will probably emerge too early there. It should be protected from critters that might eat it. Do you remember if this caterpillar had a yellow line along its side? If it didn't, it would be a polyphemus moth, also a big beauty. Sherry

I have 4 trenches dug, 6 X 2, or so. After I fill a trench with the kitchen compost, I shovel a little soil onto the top, and then cover the whole trench with straw, for insulation - keeps cool in the summer and warm in winter. I have a shade cloth (green mesh) that makes a ceiling over the whole thing - not touching, but hovering above - I attach the cloth to pvc pipe and push the pipe into the soil around the trenches - gives extra insulation, but mainly so the sun doesn't hit the trenches. The castings are wonderful, and I use them to start seeds - I grow only from seed. Garden was show-off lovely this year - I have 12 beds full of vegetables - intensive planting. When I first thought of using the ground, I was sure the worms would run away, but as long as they are fed meals, they stay home. It takes about 6 weeks from mushy not-great-smelling kitchen scraps to beautiful castings. I use a screen to strain out the soil, and put the worms that are still there (the others have moved next door) in their nursery container to procreate, and then when I'm ready to start another worm trench, I take a handful of worms and toss them in. If I can figure out how to put a picture here, I'll show you a photo of the garden in its prime.

mendopete: The wall and apple core are for those that feel like I do that worms do not need grit. Worms may need or just not care or do better with egg shell in any form but they do not need it for grit. Or any grit. I'm not sure where you are on that. Maybe we need more walls. :-) I cringe every time I read a new poster talk about toxic castings. I cringe every time I read a new poster talk about vermicomposting worms needing grit. I do not think I will have much company on this one. It is imbeded in vermicomposting lore right between kitchen scraps drip worm tea and castings being toxic. However, I was surprised how much company I had on the castings being non toxic topic. chuckiebtoo: I can't say I disagree with any of that post. I think I agree with all of it. I too was going to report back when I had more first hand knowledge from the other side of the stony green lawn. I don't need "some sources" because they would probably be boring. You all here are more fun. I think if Mary knew we were tossing this about so much she would be surprised and rethink her use of the word toxic to more like you and others here have written. I was hoping some of our foreign correspondents would chime in on the matter. It is always good to get opinions from multiple different sources. :-) And I just love the accents and cultural references. Ooh la la! Vive la difference! "Her famous book, “Worms Eat My Garbage,” has been translated into Korean, French, German and Japanese." This topic should be of interest to many vermicomposters who have read her books around the world. mendopete again: "Does this mean the castings are toxic? If I add castings to my garden, am I using worm pesticide? All worm bins need some maintenance at some point. Is this what Mary meant?" #Like. I'm twittering with delight. LOL. I hear ya Harry57. It does say something about the power of Mary's book if 14 years after her death 8 people are passionately debating a single word she wrote in a book first written 17 years ago. That is quite a worm woman! "No one in this country has done more for the self-image of worms than Mary Appelhof, the undisputed and nationally recognized, "Worm Woman." Green Living Magazine Here is a link that might be useful: Wormmania! This post was edited by equinoxequinox on Mon, Jan 26, 15 at 19:28

Cowper - so that's where "Variety is the spice of life.." comes from, or is that one of those sayings which existed forever Eric Sevaraid: "The chief cause f problems is solution". Of course I like Frederic Pohl. Did Charles M Schulz ever realize how much he still influences people?