The winter edition of the cat-tail moth is a bug wrapped in a cat-tail rug.  The tiny larvae of this aptly named moth – also known as the Shy Cosmet – pass the cold season within the fluffy seed heads of cat-tails.  They are in the enviable position of never having to leave the security of their comforter on a frosty winter morn like us warm-blooded types.

  Finding one of these caterpillars is a difficult thing – but finding a bunch of them is easy.  All you need to do is locate a puffed out cat-tail head. In normal circumstances, a cat-tail seeks to attain nudity by the time spring comes along. It hopes to surrender its cottony seed blanket to the four winds and remain as a bare spike. Any creature seeking long-term shelter in this temporary refuge has to take steps to insure that its cover won’t be blown. Cat-tail Moth caterpillars, therefore, weave a silken net around the entire cat-tail head before entering the winter season.  When the seeds start to peel away they are held within the confines of the silk bag. A poofy cat-tail with a hair-net is the result. Here you will find caterpillars – lots of them.

  I took this cat-tail inside in order to perform a larvaectomy. Since the caterpillars eat the micro sized seeds where they attach to the central spike, the cottony down was free to peel away like a sheet of sheep wool. There were no insects immediately apparent – it’s not like cockroaches dashing for cover when the light is turned on. No, you need to wait a second or two before you begin to see one sticking its head out from the fluff.  Pretty soon another shows itself and before you know it you have a small confused herd on your hands. There were ten individuals in this single head.

  The caterpillars came in different sizes, depending on their stage of growth, but none exceeded 8 mm in length.  Here’s a detailed view of one of the larger larvae venturing out onto the Martian surface of my fingertip.  The dark head capsule distinguished the forward end and the pale body was pin-striped with brown.  As a caterpillar it was required to motivate itself via 16 stubby legs but it moved at a good clip. You’d expect it to be somewhat sluggish but such was not the case.  It was actually difficult to get a stop action shot of the little beast.

  I attempted to gather in the whole team of ‘pillars for a group shot, but had to settle for this shot of some of the slower ones.  I suppose their agitation was driven by the need to seek shelter.  They have absolutely no defense from predators other than their security blanket. Exposure is not an option.  Even under cover they are in constant danger. Chickadees, those little black and gray dynamos of the bird world, actively seek them out with their probing little beaks.

  Assuming that another curious naturalist or bird doesn’t come along to disrupt the natural order of things, these caterpillars should pupate and emerge by mid summer.  The adult Cosmet is nothing to brag about, but as a proud member of the micro-lepidopteron clan they hold their own with a 22 mm. wingspan of fringed cappuccino colored wings adorned with a few eye spots.

 I re-introduced my little friends to another undisturbed cat-tail head. I felt slightly guilty about destroying their home for the sake of science, but also did it as a meaningless gesture to bring in the New Year. Unfortunately, the chickadee that was watching me the whole time probably saw it as an act of feeding. From Cat-tail to Cosmo to Chickadee – the cycle of life continues into the year 2008.