BUG PICS FOR CONNIE

While clearing my flower beds for spring, I found one of these buried in the ground.

That picture is pretty close to actual size, the real one being about two thirds that size. I thought it was a bulb of some kind- imagine my surprise when it started wiggling!

I was disgusted, naturally, but my next thought was that I had to capture it to show Mary Lou and the kids.

Now I've identified it as the pupa of a sphinx moth, or kumara moth. One of its names is also the Convolvulus Hawk.

Hey Dave- remember that time the bat sized moth fluttered around our kitchen for an hour and we were horrified?

I have a feeling THAT must have been a Convolvulus Hawk. No other moth could possibly be deserving of being called a hawk.