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Project Noah Nature School
Orgyia antiqua
Many of these moths were continuously fluttering around small shore pines about 500ft from the beach. One finally landed on the underside of a pine branch and I was able to snap a pic. On closer inspection I wondered what it was doing? It seems to be mating, but I would have assumed adult moths mate with other adult moths. This one seems to be mating with something more catepillar-like.
Shore scrub and pines 500ft-1000ft from beach
The females don't have wings and therefore don't fly away from the hairy cocoon from which they emerge. Winged males find the soft bodied females fairly quickly and mate with them.
The females lay eggs all over the hairy cocoon and die shortly after.
Nice spotting with both sexes !
Wow for sure. I knew Tussock Moths mated like this but it did not occur to me that was what I was seeing in your pics. I didn't realize it was a Tussock Moth either.
According to the Wikipedia description, it is a male of the species mating with the short-lived pupal stage of a female. The female then lays eggs on the remains of the cocoon. Wow, strange and beautiful!
This moth appears to be emerging from it's cocoon. A process called eclosion.https://www.reimangardens.com/butterfly/butterfliesmoths-spread-wings-emerging/
Spotted on Sep 15, 2022
Submitted on Sep 19, 2022
