Moth Pupa? - BugGuide.Net

What size are the red Pupei?

I have found one in the woods on my parents Tennessee farm. It was laying on top of the dirt where a flow of water had washed away the leaves. Mine is very similar except it is jet black and seems to be larger. Mine is over 2 1/2 inches long and 5/8 thick at the fatest part. Thought it was some kind of projectile. It is as big as my thumb, and I am 6'5" and 230lbs, so that is a big thumb. Mine is also moving, and I put mine in my Terrarium at home. It seems to turn itself a half turn each day. Very unusual and curious. I hope I can add a picture to this comment for you to view. If not I will add it to the main identify gallery where the red pupa picture is listed. Any more information would be great.

Thank you and have a nice day.

… SpaceKowboy, 8 May, 2009 - 4:39pm

I have found two...

...similar to this. One of them turned out to be Green Cutworm Moth (Anicla infecta). The other never matured. I think this is in the Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) family.

… Ron M., 7 May, 2009 - 12:57pm

Thanks Ron

I find a few of these every year when I dig up my garden. This is the first one that was moving in my hand.

… Ray Lemke, 7 May, 2009 - 3:10pm

Keep it

and see what emerges. I've had quite a few different moths that look similar to this at this stage.

… Lynette Schimming, 7 May, 2009 - 4:16pm

Good Advice

There were actually two. I've retrieved them from the garden so we'll see what develops. It appears that I saved them in the nick of time, as they were being attacked by ants.

… Ray Lemke, 7 May, 2009 - 7:08pm