 Spent Cocoons
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A spent cocoon is one from which an adult moth has already emerged.
There are really two cocoons, one suspended inside the other with loose silk
thread. Suspension makes it difficult for the pupa within the inner coocoon to get wet from rain or snow. Students can cut cocoons open and see what's inside. One set of instructions with each order. When the adult cecropia emerged, if left behind the skin of the pupa. Also inside the inner cocoon is the skin of the caterpillar, which was left behind when the pupa was formed. The inside of the inner cocoon is very
slick. Cocoons can be opened with safety scissors and by tearing. A very tactile experience. It is very easy for a class to spend several hours with spent cocoons.
You don't always get what you think you will when you open a cocoon. Sometimes, a caterpillar did not properly form into a pupa, or a pupa did not properly form into an adult moth. In such cases, you may find a mummified caterpillar or a mummified pupa.
Cecropia moths belong to a loose family of moths called the Giant Silk Moths. Simply, the cocoons of this family are used to manufacture silk. The cecropia moth cocoon is silk. See our sister site www.icarussilk.com for more information about the cecropia and silk.
There are really two cocoons, one suspended inside the other with loose silk
thread. Suspension makes it difficult for the pupa within the inner coocoon to get wet from rain or snow. Students can cut cocoons open and see what's inside. One set of instructions with each order. When the adult cecropia emerged, if left behind the skin of the pupa. Also inside the inner cocoon is the skin of the caterpillar, which was left behind when the pupa was formed. The inside of the inner cocoon is very
slick. Cocoons can be opened with safety scissors and by tearing. A very tactile experience. It is very easy for a class to spend several hours with spent cocoons.
You don't always get what you think you will when you open a cocoon. Sometimes, a caterpillar did not properly form into a pupa, or a pupa did not properly form into an adult moth. In such cases, you may find a mummified caterpillar or a mummified pupa.
Cecropia moths belong to a loose family of moths called the Giant Silk Moths. Simply, the cocoons of this family are used to manufacture silk. The cecropia moth cocoon is silk. See our sister site www.icarussilk.com for more information about the cecropia and silk.
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