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I found these 2 different pupa(?) on the same shrub yesterday in Alcossebre, approx. 100 metres ASL, some 300 metres from the coast, has anyone any idea's please.

Hi, can you give us a rough idea of their size and do you have any idea what plant they are attached to? My educated guess would be either an Emperor moth Saturnia pavonia or the Peacock moth Saturnia pyri

Hi Bugboy, Here is another photo, I don't know what the shrub is, some leaves are red but mostly green and waxy, the pupa is about an inch long.
Alcossebre is in North-East Spain by the way.
Thanks for your comments so far.
Russ
































































Thanks for your

Just to muddy the waters, could the shrub be Pistacia lentiscus ?
Over to you Bugsy.
Chris

Hmmmm, still looks like a silkmoth cocoon to me. A quick check on Wikipedia does list Pistacia as an alternative LHP to the favourite heather of the Emperor Moth (scroll to the bottom of the page)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnia_pavonia

Thanks for your interest boys, I will try and keep an eye on them, but I'm about 3 miles away.
Russ

I am happy with Pistacia lentiscus for the shrub (red and green leaves at the same time).
However, if per chance you return there, Russ, try and get me a full photo of the bush.
But don't go out of your way.
Thanks, Chris

The cocoon reminds me of that of the Fox moth, however you are within the range of the closely related Macrothylacia digramma, which replaces the Fox moth in most of Iberia. One of its larval host plants is the Pistachio, hence its French name Bombyx du pistacier.

M.

The pupa were both still on the bush on 11th march.

Thanks for all comments.

Russ