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Pre-Pupal Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

bald looking caterpillar
Location: western maryland
August 10, 2011 7:57 pm
What is this strange creature?
Signature: curious

tiger swallowtail cat prepupal maryland 300x225 Pre Pupal Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Pre-Pupal Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Dear Curious,
This is a Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar, and its dark purple coloration indicates that it is pre-pupal and about to begin metamorphosis into the chrysalis stage.  When a typically green Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar nears the end of its stage as a caterpillar, it loses interest in feeding upon the leaves of its host tree, including, according to BugGuide, black cherry, tuliptree, sweet bay and swamp bay, and it begins searching for a suitable location for pupation, often leaving the tree.  At this time, the green coloration often changes to orange or dark purple, like the color of your individual.  Here is a matching photo from BugGuidefor confirmation.

tiger swallowtail cat prepupal maryland 2 300x235 Pre Pupal Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Pre-Pupal Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar


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Posted 11 August 2011 § swallowtail caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

August 4, 2011
We walked back to the Milkweed Meadow in Elyria Canyon Park this morning to check on the status of the two Monarch Caterpillars, Danaus plexippus, thinking that they might have transformed into chrysalides, but I could only find one of the caterpillars.  Hopefully the other was just elsewhere, or perhaps it found a nice place to metamorphose into a chrysalis

monarch cat 20110804 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Monarch Caterpillar

A very wary Bumble Bee would not let me get close enough with the camera, and after several aborted attempts, we were lucky enough to get a few photos.  This is most definitely not a Yellow Faced Bumble Bee.  We were not able to get any photos of the abdominal markings until the last image.

california bumblebee 20110804 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Crotch's or California Bumble Bee???

Just as it was flying off it showed its signature markings, but interestingly, it doesn’t match any of the images on BugGuide for the four species that Charles Hogue, in his landmark book Insects of the Los Angeles Basis, indicates are found locally.  After a bit more searching, we determined it might be Crotch’s Bumble Bee, Bombus crotchii, based on the illustration on the North American Bumble Bees and confirmed on the third photo down on the Las Pilitas Nursery webpage, and that appears to agree with this BugGuide image as well.  The Discover Life website also has photos.  Continued research is filling us with doubts.  It seems to match what we identified as a California Bumble Bee when we found one napping on the wisteria this spring.

california bumblebee 20110804 2 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Crotch's or California Bumble Bee???

There appeared to be more Large Milkweed Bugs today than on Sunday, and there were several places where the Milkweed Aphids, AKA Oleander Aphids, Aphis nerii, were quite plentiful.  Read more about Milkweed Aphids on BugGuide.

milkweed aphids 20110804 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Milkweed Aphids

Before leaving, I made sure to pull some more Marestail or Horseweed, Conyza species (See Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide or CalFlora) and more of that prickly yellow flower that is still not properly identified that might be a Spiny Sowthistle, Sonchus asper (See Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide).

Update:  on the Bumble Bee identity
August 5, 2011
Now we aren’t certain if the Bumble Bee is a California Bumble Bee or a Crotch’s Bumble Bee.

Update:  August 7, 2011
I returned to the Milkweed Meadow in Elyria Canyon Park to search for the Monarch Chrysalis, but the only caterpillar I could find has still not metamorphosed. 

monarch cat 20110807 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Monarch Caterpillar in Elyria Canyon, August 7, 2011

I did get some additional photo of the Bumble Bee as well.  Here are the abdominal markings from a different angle.

bumblebee milkweed 20110807 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Which Bumble Bee is it? Crotch's or California???

Update:  August 11, 2011
I made a trip to the Milkweed Meadow in Elyria Canyon Park this evening about 6:30 and I was unable to find any Monarch Caterpillars.  I hope they wandered away from the milkweed to find a suitable location to transform into chrysalides.  I photographed a couple of Large Milkweed Bugs. 

large milkweed bugs 20110811 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Large Milkweed Bugs

The new addition to the insects that have become part of the milkweed ecosystem are Small Milkweed Bugs.  I found them  on two different milkweed plants. 

small milkweed bug 20110811 2 300x225 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Small Milkweed Bugs

The individual I photographed was a difficult subject, and it kept hiding among the blossoms of the milkweed inflorescence.  I needed to intervene by including my hand in the photo to get a nice angle on the unwilling subject.

small milkweed bug 20110811 300x206 Milkweed Meadow Continued: Which Bumble Bee is it?????

Small Milkweed Bug

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted 04 August 2011 § Aphids, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, and Tree Hoppers § brush footed butterfly caterpillars § Bumble Bees § Mt Washington Blog ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: ,

Pre-Pupal Black Swallowtail Caterpillar and Butterfly Garden

Interesting moths and butterflies?
Location: Windsor, ON, Canada
August 2, 2011 12:10 pm
This doesn’t seem like a question you would normally get, but I am quite interested in Lepidoptera and I am wondering what are some easy ways to attract interesting and beautiful species?
I am currently raising a Black swallowtail caterpillar, which is about to pupate, that I found on my parsley,in my garden.
Next year, I am going to plant a strawberry plant, and I know it will attract many moths, including the Emperor moth. Anyway, are there any nice species that I can attract easily with a host plant? Preferably not a tree. A shrub, plant, flower ..etc will work.
Signature: Sincerely, Dante

black swallowtail cat prepupal dante 300x199 Pre Pupal Black Swallowtail Caterpillar and Butterfly Garden

Pre-Pupal Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Hi Dante,
Thank you for submitting your lovely photo of a Pre-Pupal Black Swallowtail Caterpillar.  There is nothing unusual about your request.  It would be really helpful to know what species you are trying to attract, and also if you are wanting to provide just nectar for the butterflies, or host plants for caterpillars.  Butterfly Bush, Buddleia species, are famous for attracting butterflies.  As a youngster growing up in Ohio, Daniel used to give his mother a bit of grief for damaging her tall perennial Phlox flowers in an attempt to catch butterflies.  The Phlox would attract numerous species of nectaring butterflies, including Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails and Pipevine Swallowtails as well as Fritillaries, Monarchs and diurnal Sphinx Moths.  Zinnias are another excellent flower to attract nectaring butterflies, but they are annuals that need to be planted each year.  Coneflowers and Monarda are also good choices for perennials.  You can always add native milkweed to your garden to provide the host plant for Monarch Caterpillars and the blossoms attract numerous butterflies.  Good luck.

Thank you for replying, I want to provide host plants for caterpillars,  preferably simple plants, not trees.
I was thinking about planting strawberries to attract Small emperor moths , but I am not sure if they live in Detroit, MI. Are there any silk moths, sphinx/hawk moths or butterflies that I can attract easily with a host plant?
Sincerely, Dante

Hi again Dante,
We are not certain where you heard about strawberries, but we have our doubts.  Regarding Giant Silkmoths, they do not feed as adults.  Lights will attract them, but you need host trees and you are not interested in planting trees.  Hawkmoths can be attracted by flowers with nectar, like bee balm, honeysuckle and nicotiana.  Tomato plants will attract species that feed on tomato leaves.  Good Luck.

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Posted 04 August 2011 § Butterflies and Skippers § swallowtail caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: ,
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

July 31, 2011
Each month, on the fourth Sunday of the month, the Mt Washington Beautification Committee, co-hosted by Clare Marter Kenyon and Daniel Marlos, meets at 9:30 AM near the Red Barn in Elyria Canyon State Park.  Clare takes the lead with native plant germination in the nursery and Daniel goes out weeding in areas that need special attention.  This month the weeds that were targeted were invasive Conyza and an unidentified yellow thistle type plant.  Daniel is especially concerned about invasive weeds crowding out the native milkweed.  Elizabeth is seen pulling weeds from around the milkweed. 

Elizabeth Weeds 20110731 web1 242x300 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

CLICK TO ENLARGE Elyria Canyon Work Party August 28, 2011

There is a wealth of insect life on the milkweed.  Daniel saw two Monarch caterpillars of approximately the same age.  They were on two different plants about ten feet apart.

monarch cat elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Monarch Caterpillar 20110731 AM

Two different caterpillars were photographed in the morning, but in the afternoon, only the one feeding on the leaves was photographed.  The other Monarch Caterpillar was feeding on blossoms.  The detail that is missing from the live experience in the static photo is the twitching of the front fleshy pseudo-antennae.

monarch cat 20110731 pm 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Monarch Caterpillar 20110731 PM

While they were not plentiful, adult Large Milkweed Bugs, Oncopeltus fasciatus, were found singly or in pairs on the blossoms. 

milkweed bugs elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Large Milkweed Bugs

One pair was caught In Flagrante Delicto.

milkweed bugs mating elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Large Milkweed Bugs Mating

TO BE CONTINUED …

…  And the last of the insects found on the Indian Milkweed, Asclapias eriocarpa, were the yellow Milkweed Aphids.

milkweed aphids elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Milkweed Aphids are tended by Argentine Sugar Ants

If you live in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mt Washington, or nearby Highland Park, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, South Pasadena, Atwater Villiage or Silverlake, and you want to volunteer some time on the fourth Sunday of August, come join us.  Most of our volunteers walk in from various entry points to Elyria Canyon Park, but there is one small parking lot at the end of Wollum Street near the intersection of Division Street.  Park in the lot and walk up the path.  When the path divides, take the right path and wind uphill through the trees.  When you get to the crest, you should be able to see the Red Barn down below.  Stay on the paths to avoid poison oak.  Take note that there is a gate on Bridgeport Drive, and we do not recommend parking there to drive to Elyria Canyon Park.  If you would like additional information, please leave a comment.

 

 

 

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Posted 31 July 2011 § Aphids, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, and Tree Hoppers § brush footed butterfly caterpillars § Mt Washington Blog § Seed Bugs ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: ,

Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Location: Southern Lancaster County, PA
July 28, 2011 10:22 pm
We took this photo on a camping trip in the river hills of southern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania In mid July this year. We were close to a tree line and it was walking on the ground. It was so strange. I never saw a bug like this before… I was wondering if you can identify it??
Signature: Robert

tiger swallowtail cat robert 300x190 Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Hi Robert,
This is the caterpillar of a Tiger Swallowtail, and its orange osmetrium, a scent organ, is just beginning to emerge.

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Posted 29 July 2011 § swallowtail caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Mourning Cloak Caterpillar called “horrific”

What is this???
Location: CA
July 26, 2011 5:37 pm
Curious as to identifying this horrific bug I took pictures of…
Signature: AP

mourning cloak cat ap 300x206 Mourning Cloak Caterpillar called horrific

Mourning Cloak Caterpillar

Dear AP,
We can think of numerous things in the world that might be called “horrific” but the Mourning Cloak Caterpillar is not one of them.  We cannot imagine what incited you to use such strong language.  Mourning Cloaks are lovely dark purple butterflies with cream colored wing edges and tiny blue spots, and their populations seem to be high this year.  Perhaps it is related to the heavy rains in California this past season.

Posted 27 July 2011 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Charaxes Caterpillar from the Congo

Blue-horned dragon caterpillar
Location: Bas-Congo, DR Congo
July 26, 2011 1:31 am
Dear Mr. Bugman,
My 9 yo daughter and I are interested in knowing more about a cool caterpillar we encountered in the Kisantu Botanical Gardens here in Congo about 120 km west of Kinshasa. We appreciate any help you can give us.
Katy and her dad.

charaxes cat africa katy 2 300x195 Charaxes Caterpillar from the Congo

Charaxes Caterpillar

Hi Katy and her dad,
While we are unable to provide you with a species name, we can provide you with the genus for this horned Caterpillar.  It is in the genus Charaxes, a group of Brush Footed Butterflies found in Africa.  According to the Butterfly Corner website, there are over 180 species of Charaxes.  Members of the genus are also found in India and other parts of Asia where they are known as Pashas or Rajahs.  While this is not your species, you can see the similarities to this Madagascar native, the Green Veined Charaxes on the Online Fieldguide website.

charaxes cat africa katy 300x191 Charaxes Caterpillar from the Congo

Charaxes Caterpillar

Hi Daniel,
Would you please put me in contact with Katy’s dad regarding the following?
I might be able to provide a specific ID (the Charaxinae are one of my research subjects; it was I, not David Lees, who initially identified the Malagasy Green-veined Charaxes larva for Philip Bowles), but first need a bit more information and hopefully higher res photos.  Thanks very much!
Cheers,
Keith Wolfe

 

Posted 26 July 2011 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Metamorphosis of a Crescent Butterfly

Partial life stages of a crescent butterfly species

crescent caterpillars chris 300x278 Metamorphosis of a Crescent Butterfly

Crescent Caterpillars

Partial life stages of a crescent butterfly species
Location: Cheney Kansas
July 12, 2011 7:05 pm
I’ve been documenting this species of butterfly from my garden..I think it’s from the crescent family just not sure of the exact species of crescent.
I collected the caterpillar and it formed it’s chrysalis in a jar and about a week later it transformed into a butterfly.
Signature: Chris Harris

crescent pupa chris 300x221 Metamorphosis of a Crescent Butterfly

Crescent Chrysalis

Hi Chris,
Your documentation of the metamorphosis of a Crescent Butterfly is an excellent addition to our website.  This is most likely a Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos, though some other members of the genus look very similar. You can find the Pearl Crescent and others on BugGuide.  We are setting your posting to go live over the weekend while we are out of the office.

crescent butterfly chris 300x193 Metamorphosis of a Crescent Butterfly

Pearl Crescent

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Posted 16 July 2011 § Brush Footed Butterflies § brush footed butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (2) °

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