Brush Footed Butterfly Caterpillars | What's That Bug?

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Monarch Caterpillar and Chrysalis

Monarch larvae & chrysalis
September 27, 2010
Hi Daniel,
I’ve sent you a few pix over the last couple of months, one of which you featured as September’s Bug of the Month.
Thought you might be interested in this monarch larvae. I found it munching on milkweed, which I have growing all around my property and in my yard. (For this very reason!) I decided to try bringing it in and making a “perfect spot” for it to make its chrysalis. Well, the photos show the progression: it continued to eat for another full day after I brought it in, which was September 22. On the evening of September 23, it started making its way up the branch. I figured I’d find a chrysalis the next morning. Instead, it had disappeared, no where to be found! On the 25th, I found the larvae on my wall, way down by the heat baseboard. I debated on moving it, but left it there and went to do errands. I came home in the mid afternoon to find the chrysalis hanging from the wall! Now, will a butterfly emerge?!
K L Thalin
Saxtons River, Vermont

Monarch Caterpillar

Dear KL,
The adult should emerge in a few weeks depending upon the temperature.

Monarch Chrysalis

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¶ Posted 27 September 2010 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: Bug Humanitarian Award

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar

Gulf Fritillary
Location: Suburb North of Atlanta, GA
September 24, 2010 8:43 am
My son noticed this orange and black spiked caterpillar on our way into the zoo yesterday. After recently becoming alerted to the stinging power of certain spiked/barbed caterpillars like the saddleback from your site, I cautioned the kiddos not to touch this guy. I didn’t think I recalled seeing him on the list of stinging butterflies-to-be but caution never stung anyone. Sadly I did not have my real camera with me, but my phone grabbed an image I was later able to identify, I think, as the Gulf Fritillary.
Thanks to you guys when we also encountered a Sycamore Tussock inside the zoo I did know it was harmless. After much reassurance to my friend that I *knew* it was safe, I was then able to assist her young son in gently petting him.
I noticed you have many pictures of the Gulf Fritillary butterfly but not many of the pretty orange caterpillar. Maybe these will be of interest.
Signature: Resa

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar

Hi Resa,
Thanks so much for adding to our archive again by filling in a species that didn’t get much recent documentation. We probably haven’t posted an image of a Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar since before our major site overhaul and migration over two years ago.

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¶ Posted 25 September 2010 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Variegated Fritillary Chrysalis

Pupae in Graveyard
Location: Lancaster, PA
September 20, 2010 6:33 pm
We found a couple of these gorgeous pupae attached to grave stones. The photos were taken in mid September. I was hoping you could help with identification.
Signature: Jen

Variegated Fritillary Chrysalis

Dear Jen,
Your pupa is the chrysalis of a Variegated Fritillary. Because the caterpillars feed on a large variety of plants, they are a wide ranging species in open fields and along roadsides. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on Passionvine (Passiflora), Violets & Pansy (Viola, Flax Linum, Moonseed (Menispermum), Mayapple (Podophyllum), Stonecrop (Sedum), Purslane (Portulaca) and others. Adults are fond of flowers, and especially seem to like Thistles and yellow Composites. They also frequently visit damp ground.“

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¶ Posted 21 September 2010 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Monarch Chrysalis

Shiny bright green Chrysalis in wood pile
Location: Fairfield, Maine, Somerset County
September 9, 2010 4:34 pm
Dear Bugman,
I found two odd and pretty looking things attached to some logs while splitting wood. I took a few photos for i.d. and moved them to a safer area. Do you know what will come from these? One was loose, but the other was attached by some sort of filaments attached to a black ”thing.” The woodpile was mostly hardwood, maybe a few pine in there. the area was adjacent to a large milkweed field where I had previously seen dozens of Monarch caterpillars feeding…maybe these are monarchs chrysalis? They also look like a cicada’s wings might be inside…
Thank you,
Signature: James R

Monarch Chrysalis

Hi James,
YOur theory that this is the Chrysalis of a Monarch Butterfly is absolutely correct.

Update
September 10, 2010
Hi Daniel, thanks a lot!
To complete the “story” here are some pics of the caterpillars and an adult, maybe female, that I saw earlier this summer.
Thanks,
James

monarch cat james 2 300x190 Monarch Chrysalis

Monarch Caterpillar

Hi James,
Thanks for rounding out the stages of the Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis for us. This will also contribute to our Milkweed Meadow tag.

Monarch feeding on Goldenrod

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¶ Posted 10 September 2010 § ‡ Comments (2) °

Viceroy Caterpillar, not Red Spotted Purple Caterpillar

Mystery Caterpillar on Curly/Corkscrew Willow
June 23, 2010
There are quite a few of these on a curly willow in my yard in Central Arkansas, USA. Just noticed them today (June 23). They’re munching out on the willow… there are some others that are a darker brown color, but otherwise look the same. Any ideas?
Amy The Bug Girl
Little Rock, AR, USA

Viceroy Caterpillar

Hi Amy,
This is a Red Spotted Purple Caterpillar, Limenitis arthemis. BugGuide has a fine example that documents the metamorphosis of the caterpillar to an adult.

Yay! I am so excited!
I usually get monarchs on my butterfly weed, so I’m excited to have a new visitor on the willow this year!
What’s funny is, the willow was in a flower arrangment that I got in the early spring – just the bare, curly twigs. It started to root & leaf out, and I hated to throw it out, so I just stuck it down in some planters outside & it’s been very happy there! I’m glad it’s proven to be a host plant for such a beautiful butterfly.
Thanks for your quick reply!
Amy

Correction:
Imposter! Actually, it was a Viceroy!
July 3, 2010
Hi Bugman,
I sent you a question that you kindly answered back on June 24, about a mystery caterpillar on the curly willow in our yard. We’d determined it was a Red Spotted Purple (and it did look just like that caterpillar). Well, imagine my surprise when I went out into the garden early this morning to find a dozen+ VICEROY butterflies! I am attaching some photos for you
Amy The Bug Girl
Little Rock, AR, USA

: Viceroy: Newly Metamorphosed

Hi Amy,
First, we apologize for our misidentification of your Viceroy Caterpillar last month. In our defense, the Viceroy, Limenitis archippus, and the Red Spotted Purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax, are in the same genus and their caterpillars look very similar. We especially like that your one photo shows the Chrysalis below the newly emerged adult butterfly. It is also wonderful that you provided us with views of both the open and closed wings.

Viceroy

Helpful Comment
Viceroy vs Red-spotted Purple caterpillars
July 3, 2010
Photos partly down this page shows the difference between the two caterpillars. http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/butterflysimilarities.php
Viceroy caterpillars have more spikes on their humps on their backs. Red Spotted-purple caterpillar have very minimal humps on their backs.
Love your site!
Edith Smith

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¶ Posted 24 June 2010 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Variegated Fritillary Caterpillar and Chrysalides

Spiky orange caterpillar
June 9, 2010
Sending one more picture that might be a little less fuzzy. — My daughter and I found these caterpillars crawling all over the pansies last week. We put them in a bug keeper and all but one have cocooned. They are about one inch long, with orange and white stripes and black spikes. One of the cocoons is in the background of the picture. It is greenish-gray with orange spots. Any idea what they are? Thanks so much!
Kim and Katie (age 4)
Dallas, TX

Variegated Fritillary Caterpillar and Chrysalides

Hi Kim and Katy,
It appears that your third caterpillar is also about to form a chrysalis. These are the immature forms of the Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia, and in a few weeks, you should be treated to the emergence of lovely orange butterflies. You can see images of the adult butterfly on BugGuide. BugGuide indicates the following food plants: “Larvae feed on Passionvine (Passiflora), Violets & Pansy (Viola, Flax Linum, Moonseed (Menispermum), Mayapple (Podophyllum), Stonecrop (Sedum), Purslane (Portulaca) and others. Adults are fond of flowers, and especially seem to like Thistles and yellow Composites. They also frequently visit damp ground.“ Since we will be out of the office between June 15 and June 23, we are presetting a few letters to post during our absence so that our readership will continue to get daily updates. You letter is set to post live to our website on June 22.

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¶ Posted 22 June 2010 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Butterfly Chrysalis, possibly Mourning Cloak

Odd Snail looking Bug
April 25, 2010
I found this bug stuck to the handle on one of my shopping bags in my garage. When I accidently grabbed it blood squirted everywhere. It also has some type of grip on the bag handle. It is about a inch long and 1/4 inch thick.
Bobby Conway
Collierville, TN (Memphis)

Butterfly Chrysalis: Probably Mourning Cloak

Hi Bobby,
This is the chrysalis of a Brushfooted Butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. While we cannot be certain of the exact identity, we suspect it is a Mourning Cloak Chrysalis which you may find pictured on BugGuide. The caterpillars of the Mourning Cloak are frequently found on willow, poplar or elm trees, and the caterpillars may travel some distance to find a spot suitable for metamorphosis.

Wow, there it is, thanks so much for the clarification. Nice to know what I dealt with.
Have a great week
Bobby

add Butterfly Chrysalis, possibly Mourning Cloak

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¶ Posted 26 April 2010 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mourning Cloak Caterpillar

Caterpillar
April 7, 2010
I’m wondering that kind of caterpillar this is, and what type of moth or butterfly it will turn in to.
I found it in my back yard, in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona.
It’s April (Spring, 85+ degrees today), and the caterpillar is about 1″ long.
I moved it twice so that my dog wouldn’t eat it… and this morning found it hanging from my back door readying itself for cocoon.
Thank you for your help.
LMK
Phoenix, AZ

Mourning Cloak Caterpillar

Dear LMK,
Your caterpillar is a Mourning Cloak Caterpillar. Mourning Cloaks are lovely purplish black butterflies with uneven cream colored borders and blue spots. They are found throughout North America as well as Eurasia in the northern hemisphere. In England, the Mourning Cloak is known as the Camberwell Beauty. As we were doing research for our book, we learned that the Mourning Cloak Caterpillar is known as the Spiny Elm Caterpillar because if is often found feeding on elm tree leaves, though it will also feed on the leaves of willow. It will not spin a cocoon, but it will form a chrysalis.