The mating pair of 鈥渇our mirrors鈥� moths as they鈥檙e popularly known in Mexico, or scientifically as Rothschildia orizaba, are evidence that the museum鈥檚 efforts to save some 2,600 cocoons rescued from an empty lot were worth the trouble.

The moths, whose numbers have fallen in Mexico City due to urbanization, have cultural relevance in Mexico.

鈥淭he Aztecs called them the 鈥榖utterfly of obsidian knives,鈥� Itzpapalotl,鈥� D铆az Batres said. 鈥淎nd in northern Mexico they'd fill many of these cocoons with little stones and put them on their ankles for dances.鈥�

These cocoons arrived at the museum in late December.

鈥淭hey gave them to us in a bag and in a box, all squeezed together with branches and leaves, so my first mission was to take them out, clean them,鈥� D铆az Batres said.

Mercedes Jim茅nez, director of the museum in the capital's Chapultepec park, said that鈥檚 when the real adventure began since they had never received anything like this before.

D铆az Batres had the cocoons hung in any place she thought they might do well, including her office where they hang from lines crisscrossing above her table. It has allowed her to watch each stage of their development closely.

The moths only survive for a week or two as adults, but they give D铆az Batres tremendous satisfaction, especially when she arrives at her office and new moths 鈥渁re at the door, on the computer."

So she tries to help them 鈥渃omplete their mission鈥� and little by little their species recovers.