Observation date: February 05, 2013
Submitted by: Surferlovely
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: None.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: June 28, 2013
Coordinator notes: This is the pupa of a Manduca quinquemaculatus – Five-spotted Hawk Moth. The larva of this species is the common "Tomato Hornworm", so if you have tomato, pepper, potato or some other related plants in your yard, or in pots on your deck, this is probably where the female moth laid her eggs and the larva fed and matured. The mature larva will burrow underground and form a cavity around itself, then shed its skin to become the pupa. This moth will emerge from the pupa and work its way up to the surface and then expand its wings on a branch or plant or almost anything where it can hang upside down. If you get to see this, it is quite spectacular to watch. The pupa in your photo is hanging from its proboscis (long tongue) tube (this long proboscis allows the adult moth to pollinate deep-throated flowers such as moonflower and petunia. I am hypothesizing that someone was digging in the garden, and lifted this pupa to the surface, then hung it on the ficus seen in the photo. It would be best to place the pupa back on the ground surface near the base of the plant to allow the moth to emerge normally; otherwise, it may get caught up by this proboscis tube being hung as that is not the natural state of things. Here is a web site on Moth Photographers Group, where you can see the moth, larva, and pupa.
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7776
It is possible this is Manduca sexta, a similar species also found in your area, but the proboscis tube on that one is a bit shorter so that's why I am nearly positive that my id of M. quinquemaculata will bear out if you see the moth emerge and spread its wings. Coordinator Tomlinson
Cocoons are usually underground and made by moths This may be a chrysalis but I cannot say what it might be. I will change status to allow others to look at it. I cannot identify from this-wait and see what hatches! Kelly
