Minghui Yuan’s Image
Minghui Yuan (China) carefully illustrates the architectural detail of a hairy moth cocoon.
Minghui saw many cocoons that day in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden.
He chose one suspended against the bright sky to highlight its finer features.
The moth pupa hung mid-air within its finely constructed cocoon, seemingly defying gravity.
The caterpillars graze on lichens, mosses and algae that coat tree trunks.
Their hairs ward off predators. When it’s time to pupate, the caterpillars chew them off and recycle them as anti-predator building material.