Well, after wondering about chrysalis versus cocoon, I read more on the lifecycle of the Tobacco Harn Worm. Turns out their pupa don't seem to be either! They are just brown to brown-reddish pupa. But the more interesting part is that these pupae form in soil. Once the larva has grown big enough and fed enough (as evidence clearly with Fred), they drop to the ground and dig in a little bit. Then they transform into the pupa. That, in turn, goes through the metamorphosis stage, eventually become the Sphinx Moth.
So who knew these guys needed soil to continue the process. I think I've even seen these pupae in soil when turning it over in the cooler months. In the warmer months, the pupa can turn into a moth in just 3 weeks but in the cooler times, they can "suspend" operatons and just wait for warmer times again. Not quite hibernation but you get the idea.
So anyway, decided to move Fred into a larger container, plastic with a lid poked full of air holes. Put some soil in the bottom and then dumped the leaves and Fred from his cage into this new joint. Fred, at first, did not want to let go of the cage. The something clicked.... don't know if he smelled the soil or what but suddenly he was on the move outta there and onto the leaves in the new container.
Interestingly enough, he soon headed under the leaves to the soil and immediately started to dig in! Either he just missed having soil to play in OR it is that time to pupate. He had seemed to be scratching on the bottom of the cage a few times and he probably thought "this is the hardest soil ever!!!". So now he can do his thing, whatever the next phase is. Will need to keep checking to see if he is still eating or truely doing his next step in life.
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