I agree: they look like exit holes.
I'll try to ask park rangers, perhaps they saw these
insects emerging.

Kona wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 8:01 amVole burrows

Too small for voles

Thank you all. The suggestions look reasonable,
though, I've never seen cicadas or Sphecius
in our area. I could overlook these insects, of course.

I often see these mysterious burrows at the edges of the trail in San Elijo Lagoon Preserve (Encinitas, California).
I've never seen any creature getting in or out of them. The holes are from about 5 to 15 mm in diameter.
Can anyone suggest a host?

I prefer adjustable angled boards made of soft wood (balsa?) from BQ. Here is a DIY angled board, constructed a long time ago, using styrofoam insulation sheets, scotch tape, and pins, specifically for XL leps. The outer smooth layer of thin plastic was intentionally left intact. DSC_9179.JPG DSC_91...

Thanks, Trehopr1
Their spikes are poisonous.
"I've got blisters on my fingers", as
Ringo used to say. I have to wear
thick gloves when handling them.

Can anyone identify this one?
Definitely, not a Troides...

eurytides wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 5:21 am Naprepa flexifera?

Thanks, eurytides

Speaking of Notodontidae, here is an almost white specimen of Cerura vinula
(their wings normally have grey background). The photo was taken a few
years ago near Moscow, Russia.

A friend of mine photographed it in late April of 2021. Does anyone know the species?... Naprepa sp. (family Notodontidae) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskay/16888996400 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notodontidae Thanks, livingplanet3, I am familiar with European Notodontidae, some of them ...

A friend of mine photographed it in late April of 2021.
Does anyone know the species?

My T.a., acquired from Chuck Ianni a while ago, has "only" a 220 mm wing span, nothing to show. Here is a print from the famous "Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium" by Maria Sibylla Merian, published in 1705. "Depiction of the white witch life cycle does not match the ac...

Well, when you see what livestock sells for on Ebay, you'll see why I used the word "desperate" . That is a bunch I'd call unethical. But that's just my opinion. Kevin, I was unable to find anything except "empty cocoons, no live moth" on eBay. Actually, I am not desperate: I ac...

Thank you all. 
Yes, I am in US. I'll try eBay. 
Bill O. has a limited stock this season. 

Once in a while, I purchase a few cocoons of very trivial overwintering N. American Saturniidae: H. cecropia. and A. polyphemus, just for fun. This year I can not find any. I really do not feel like importing them from UK or France. Did something happen to these species in the US, or this is just a ...

Answering the post by Trehopr1:
Papilio rutulus on Buddleja sp.
San Diego, CA

benihikage92 and livingplanet3,
Thank you both for your replies!