Giant Hawk Moth Pupa Hatching in a Man's Hand

A giant Australian Hawk Moth (probably Coequosa australasiae) is completing the final stage of its metamorphosis, while being held in the palm of a man's hand.

The pupa may spend several weeks to months, buried close to the surface. The emergence (properly called 'eclosing' because it's not technically hatching from anything) takes 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 vertically overnight and throughout the next day, so its wings can dry and stretch out to their full size.

This video has really polarised opinion - there's a fairly even ratio of amazement and being grossed out!

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 gentle, calming background music to lull you into a false sense of security! http://youtu.be/f-hXQbGjlIA

Thanks to +anan zhang for the link to this video which explains what the fluid is that's secreted out into the baking dish...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWbF90-DOts

Here are the most-commented weird/funny comments & reactions (in no particular order). Feel free to repeat similar though if you wish :-)

That's a weird looking dog
Did it just shit?
Did it just squirt coffee?
KILL IT WITH FIRE!
Use some lotion
It looks like a turd
Cute but also disgusting
Me getting out of skinny jeans
Now you just gotta throw the whole hand/arm away
wiggle wiggle wiggle
Best characteristics: his wiggles
In my language pupa means ass
It looks like it's twerking
It looks like it has an owl face
Nope
Something about Metapods evolving
Something about Venomoth
Something about Miraculous Labybug
Something about little Akuma, eg "Fly away my little Akuma, and evilize them!"
Something about Mothra
People deliberately misspelling the word "thick", eg. "that's one thicc boi" - what's with that??
And so many Pokemon references!!

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.

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Видео Giant Hawk Moth Pupa Hatching in a Man's Hand канала Naturwunder