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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

red spotted purple cat amy 300x233 Viceroy Caterpillar, not Red Spotted Purple Caterpillar

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 icon smile Viceroy Caterpillar, not Red Spotted Purple Caterpillar
Amy The Bug Girl
Little Rock, AR, USA

viceroy amy 2 300x271 Viceroy Caterpillar, not Red Spotted Purple Caterpillar
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 amy 300x219 Viceroy Caterpillar, not Red Spotted Purple Caterpillar

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

Posted 24 June 2010 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

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 cats chrysalis kim 300x251 Variegated Fritillary Caterpillar and Chrysalides

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.

Posted 22 June 2010 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar

Nymphalid?
June 7, 2010
Found this little guy today feeding on a plant that seems like a wilder variety of cilantro. Reminded me of a monarch larva. Is it a nymphalid?
L.Rakestraw, Tucson, AZ
Tucson (near Canada del Oro Wash)

anise swallowtail cat tuscon 300x206 Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar

Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar

Dear L.
We are quite jealous.  Despite that we have a field of carrots in bloom in our front yard and that we see Anise Swallowtails in our garden, we have yet to discover Anise Swallowtail Caterpillars feeding on our carrot plants.  We have found Anise Swallowtail Caterpillars feeding on wild fennel in the open space nearby.

Thank you!  This one would be a great candidate to raise for the kids.  I can dig up some of that plant and pot it and put it in a screen cage.
Side note: I also sent the picture asking if it was a Pyrgotid fly, but I am almost certain now that it is a picture-wing fly, Otitidae or Ulidiidae, due to the shape of the abdomen and the fact that those *do* occur here.  Also, there are no May beetles here and we have plenty of compost in our yard, which Otitids consume!
Lisa

Hi Lisa,
The Anise Swallowtail is great for kids because the butterfly is so pretty.  When a drab brown moth emerges, the impact is not as great.  We will try to post your picture winged fly if we have a chance.

2

Posted 07 June 2010 § swallowtail caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Orange Dog

Alien Worm on my Orange Tree
June 3, 2010
Strangest worm looking creature with a sort of shell and retracting antenna was on my orange tree this morning. I put it in a jar with the leaf, and it ate some of the leaf.
any way you like
Lutz, FL zip code 33549

orange dog florida 300x185 Orange Dog

Orange Dog

Dear any way,
This is the caterpillar of a Giant Swallowtail, a lovely brown and yellow butterfly with tails on the hind wings.  Commonly called an Orange Dog, this caterpillar avoids being eaten by birds because it resembles bird droppings.  The retracting antennae you mentioned are a scent organ knows as the osmetrium.  When disturbed, many Swallowtail Caterpillars reveal this organ which is accompanied by a scent thought to deter predators.  The sacrifice of losing a few leaves on your tree will reward you with an adult butterfly in the coming weeks.

5

Posted 04 June 2010 § swallowtail caterpillars ‡ 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 bobby 293x300 Butterfly Chrysalis, possibly Mourning Cloak

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

Posted 26 April 2010 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ 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 cat lmk 300x182 Mourning Cloak Caterpillar

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.

mourning cloak cat lmk 2 Mourning Cloak Caterpillar

Mourning Cloak Caterpillar ready to metamorphose

Posted 09 April 2010 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Morpho helenor Caterpillar from Brazil

Morpho helenor
March 26, 2010
CATERPILLAR GENUS MORPHO,AMERICA SOUTH,REGION FOZ DO IGUAÇÚ-PARANÁ,BRAZIL.
EDUARDO LUCOF
BRAZIL-PARANÁ

morpho helenor cat brazil roberto 300x168 Morpho helenor Caterpillar from Brazil

Morpho helenor Caterpillar

Hi Eduardo,
Thanks for sending in the beautiful image of a Morpho helenor Caterpillar, though we wonder how you acquired the photo since Roberto Rezende is the name on the copyright.

Posted 26 March 2010 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Gulf Fritillary Chrysalis

What kind of caterpillar made this chrysalis?
March 24, 2010
This picture was taken today 3/24/2010. It was just a caterpillar yesterday, but today it is a chrysalis. The caterpillar was primarily gray and brown with tufts
Rob Abshear
Pompano Beach, FL

gulf fritillary chrysalis 267x300 Gulf Fritillary Chrysalis

Gulf Fritillary Chrysalis

Dear Rob,
This is the chrysalis of a Gulf Fritillary.  The caterpillars feed on passionflower vine leaves, and the butterflies are a lovely orange color.  Compare your image to this photo on BugGuide.

Posted 24 March 2010 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

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