This moth eclosed (emerged) from the pupal case resting in a jar on top of my computer. My son had dug it up in our garden a few weeks previously. I did not actually see it emerge, but it climbed to the top of a folded wad of paper towel that formed its incubator and began furiously to fan its wing. After watching it for about 15 minutes I put the plastic jar in the freezer, opening the door to check on it every 30 seconds. When it stopped fanning its wings and began searching for a crevice in which to wait out the cold spell I took it to the photo lab on top of the washing machine and released in onto the green foam pad.

It took about 36 milliseconds before it started running all over the place, across the washer and dryer, down to the floor, in and out of all the junk we have in the place. It finally came to rest on the base of a porcelain flower vase and I was able to lift that, with the moth coming along for the ride, back up to the top of the washing machine. It moved only when I attempted to get it to spread its wings. No dice on that. It did change position a bit and ended up hugging its pupal case.

I don't think they come any fresher than this. Not a scale missing, and color bright. All photos 03/31/2004 (eclosed early indoors)