Mesmerizing Time Lapse Footage That Shows a Luna Moth Caterpillar Weaving Cocoon Around Itself

In the third episode of the Smithsonian Channel series “Africa’s Wild Havens“, a giant luna moth caterpillar at the Manyeleti Nature Reserve ate copious amounts of marula leaves in order to to weave a cocoon around itself, a mesmerizing feat captured as a time lapse.

For six weeks, luna moth caterpillars gorge themselves on the leaves of the marula tree. Then, when they’re ready, they instinctively weave giant cocoons around themselves in preparation for their stunning metamorphosis.