Cocoon of the Urodidae Moth

The Amazonian moth belonging to the family of Urodidae weaves one of the strangest and most beautiful cocoons in the insect world. Unlike other cocoons that completely enclose the pupa in silk, in which to complete the metamorphosis process, Urodidae cocoons have a coarse open mesh design with an exit at the bottom, and hangs like a pendulum on a long thread of silk from the underside of a leaf.

These caterpillars largely inhabit regions of the world that see significant rain, like the Amazon rainforest. The mesh like structure of the cocoon allows rainwater to flush through the cocoon, rather than fill it. Since the pupae breathe throughout their encapsulation in the cocoon, it puts them at risk of drowning if water is not allowed to escape. The long string of silk, on the other hand, helps protect it from invading ants. The chute at the bottom of the cocoon provide an escape for the moth once it begins to emerge. The cocoon itself is bright orange colored and one of the most beautiful.

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