#coequosa

[drhoz]

An Australian Hawk Moth emerging from its pupa. Species is probably Coequosa australasiae or similar.

Wow, this video has really polarised opinion - between those who regard it as one of the most beautiful on Youtube... to those who regard it as a hideous abomination! So in response to both, I have decided to upload the unedited footage - so just in case you can't get enough of the hideous beauty that is The Hatching of the Hawk Moth - now you can see all 7 minutes WITHOUT the soothing background music to lull you into a false sense of security! http://youtu.be/f-hXQbGjlIA

The caterpillar spends several weeks or months in the pupal stage, buried very close to the surface. Hatching takes around half and hour to an hour, during which time the moth is very vulnerable to predation by birds, ants, etc.

After emerging it must find its way to a safe place to hang overnight and throughout the next day, for its wings to dry and stretch out to their full size.

Music is 'Winter Cabin' by Alex Houghton, from the Corel Stock Music Library, CD #7, file name "Adult6.wav", Royalty-Free music (c) 1996 Corel Corporation, used here under license.

[drhoz]

“With some photos of the moth at the end of the video. Commonly found buried in shallow soil in Australia. Thanks to Leon Kaliski for identifying the species for me :-) “

[drhoz]

#1141 - Coequosa australasiae

Photographed by Scott Hanley in Nambour, a town in SE Queensland.

Coequosa australasiae ( formerly Brachyglossa banksiae ) is found in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, where the caterpillars feed on eucalyptus leaves. The caterpillars are very large, have huge butts, tiny forked heads, and are covered in small warts. This is not a very pretty description, but they are a pleasant shade of green. The moths then pupate in leaf litter.