I was getting concerned about keeping the Spicebush Doot-doots and Luna-to-be indoors with artificial heat and light, when I need them to stay in their little sleeping bags until spring. I’d got 2x2s on Monday (even if RP actually delivered the lattice, cedar board and 2x2s to D’s across the street and I didn’t find out until I called yesterday!) and got hardware cloth yesterday, so I decided I had time after work to build the enclosure so my dudes will be safe from hungry mice/raccoons/whatever eats them.

I had two 8′, so I cut four pieces at 36″, then cut the leftovers in half to make crosspieces. 1/2″ hardware cloth on the sides, and on the bottom so water will drain out if any should enter.

Mouse-proof bottom (I hope).

I put some leaves in the bottom with Luna-to-be. I know he’s alive because his cocoon was moving while he waited for me to put leaves in. Disconcerting to see a moving pile of dead leaves, but Lunas are known for being active cocoons. I wired some of the heavy-duty nylon mesh to the wall to make sure he knew how to get up when he ecloses so his wings can expand (or hers…certainly can’t tell yet).

One of the Spicebush Doot-doots had a small twig attached to his leaf, so I just attached him to the stick with a twist tie.

The other one was just on a leaf, so I had to get creative with thread.

Attached to their “perches”.

I used plywood that had been the bottom of a storage tub kitteh hoce for the roof. Beautiful, no, but they’ll be safe once I put the legs down into the ground enough that it won’t tip. I ran out of daylight, but I’ll make a door by clipping a square/rectangle out and wiring a piece over it. No rush…they won’t be ready to leave until late April or early May. Anyway…the Diapausitron!