Yes- Toad houses work- as do flat rocks with one end propped up- they will crawl right under those- and leave your plants alone! We still have alot of toads every summer- even in the closer to downtown suburbs. We are close to a water run off area along the rail road tracks, and we don't use chemicals in the yard- I think that makes a big difference in the city- having a chemical free zone near some type of water- Another type of shelter that is easy to build for critters- is to cut some 1-3" branches lay a few down a couple of inches apart- then lay some ontop of those going the other way- screw them in place repeat as needed for the height you would like- I think at least four courses though- Stash that structure under a shrub- or in an out of the way place- let plants grow around, over or through it. That structure will provide a home for many types of bug eaters- and it's too small and damp for rodents or rabbits. I've found it's kind of like that movie slogan- if you build it- they will come. I like having bug eaters around in the garden- and not in/under the roots of that prized new "treasure" plant! Julie

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

Neglected to mention -- if you can post a photo, we may be able to tell you which bug.

I called around and finally found a company about five miles from me that sold me the the part for $9.41. They didn't ask for a contractors license but must have thought I was one because they didn't charge me sales tax. While I was there I chatted with the guy at the will call counter and was amazed at how cheap one can buy a complete system for if you can get it at the contractor's price. They had a complete Payne system that included a furnace, 3 ton air conditioner, coil, wire, and fuses and some other stuff for $1379. The only thing I would need to supply was a plenum which they said cost $60 and the ducts. He said the high efficiency systems only cost about 20% more. He said I could buy just the air conditioner part for $750. I may go back and buy one and install it myself on top of the carrier furnace I already have. About 18 years ago a guy at work was remodling his house and sold me his used Rheem furnace and air conditioner for $500 and I installed it myself. I didn't have a vacuum pump so I gave some moonlighting HVAC tech $40 to vacuum out the system and charge it for me. I might have also had to pay him for the freon, I don't remember. I even made my own custom plenum out of sheet aluminum.