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MILKWEED MEADOW: Mating Walkingsticks and Mating Milkweed Beetles and Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars

Bug Love at Shenandoah
Location:  Shenandoah National Park, VA
August 17, 2010 9:43 pm
Hi, Daniel, My grandson and I just spent a long weekend camping at Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of west-central VA, a nice change from the heat and humidity of the VA Peninsula. We found tons of good bugs and are sending a sample. The first is of milkweed beetles mating on, what else?, milkweed growing right outside the visitor center at Big Meadow in the Park. The second is from the Meadow and was a great find – walking sticks!! We also found 2 rhinoceros beetles but couldn’t get in close enough for a good shot. Enjoy!
Kathy Haines

walkingsticks mating kathy 218x300 MILKWEED MEADOW: Mating Walkingsticks and Mating Milkweed Beetles and Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars

Mating Walkingsticks

Hi Kathy,
We just received your numerous emails with multiple attached photographs, and we want to post one image before hurrying out to work.  The Walkingsticks appear to be Northern Walkingsticks, Diapheromera femorata, which can be verified on BugGuide.  Please in the future do not send multiple unrelated species in a single email because it complicates our system of archiving letters.

Daniel, thanks, and I’m so sorry – I’m so impressed with the work you do on what we send in that the last thing I’d want to do is mess it up.  My apologies, and thanks for letting me know.
Kathy Haines

Kathy,
PLease don’t take our comment the wrong way.  It will just be so difficult for us to choose from among your other great photos.  We may just try posting one email with multiple categories.  Your Large Milkweed Bug photo of Oncopeltus fasciatus is a great continuation of the thriving ecosystem surrounding the Milkweed Meadow.  More information on the Large Milkweed Bug, which is not a beetle, may be located on BugGuide.

milkweed bugs kathy 300x210 MILKWEED MEADOW: Mating Walkingsticks and Mating Milkweed Beetles and Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars

Mating Large Milkweed Bugs

Shenandoah, Part II
Location:  Shenandoah National Park, VA
August 17, 2010 9:47 pm
Here are a couple more from the Shenandoah NP camping trip. I think we have milkweed tussock caterpillars, maybe a type of armyworm caterpillar?, and a daddy longlegs. We’re bypassing the many monarchs, eastern tiger swallowtails (our state insect), and what we think is a hickory tussock moth but will send one more with a gorgeous green sphinx (we think).
Kathy Haines

milkweed tussock cats kathy 300x200 MILKWEED MEADOW: Mating Walkingsticks and Mating Milkweed Beetles and Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars

Hi again Kathy,
This photo of the Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars or Milkweed Tiger Moth Caterpillars, Euchaetes egle, supports the description of the life cycle on BugGuide which states:  “Larvae feed on milkweed, Asclepias species. Adults sometimes found on hostplant during day (1). Females lay eggs in “rafts” and caterpillars are gregarious during instars 1-3, solitary in later instars, when marked with bright tufts. May defoliate patches of milkweed.”  We are adding this image to your previous letter and building the Milkweed Meadow feature.

!!!
Ethan (my grandson) and I are honored.  This is so cool!  I can’t wait for him to see the post – he’s going to love it.
Thanks, Daniel – I can’t stop smiling.
Kathy Haines

What’s That Bug on the Tomato PLant???
Could that be a new book title?  The Milkweed Meadow or Goldenrod Forest would be much more fascinating books.  Or, I could just stay close to home and write Black Mustard and the Camino Real and its thriving Spider and Insect population in Elyria Canyon.

Posted 18 August 2010 § Seed Bugs § Walkingsticks ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Spotted Tussock Moth Cocoon and Imago from Canada

milkweed tussock moth cocoon and butterfly
Location:  south western ontario
August 4, 2010 12:30 pm
neighbour found caterpiller meeting milkweed tussock description. by the time it was brought to me allready made very cool fiberous cocoon. emerged after 4 months.
bug-eyed canadian

spotted tussock cocoon canada 300x206 Spotted Tussock Moth Cocoon and Imago from Canada

Spotted Tussock Moth Cocoon

Hi bug-eyed canadian,
Your cocoon and adult moth are actually a different Tussock Moth.  Rather than the Milkweed Tussock Moth, this is the Spotted Tussock Moth, Lophocampa maculata, based on images posted to BugGuide.  We are thrilled to be able to add your photos of the Cocoon and Imago to the existing images of the Caterpillars of the Spotted Tussock Moth already posted to our site.

spotted tussock moth canada 300x221 Spotted Tussock Moth Cocoon and Imago from Canada

Spotted Tussock Moth

Posted 05 August 2010 § Tiger Moths and Arctiids ‡ Comments (0) °

Rusty Tussock Moth Cocoon and Eggs from England

Cocoon with raised circular bumps
March 28, 2010
Hello Bugman, from across the pond. I spotted this cocoon, attached to a branch of a 2 year old Hebe, and can’t find out what it is. It’s about the size of my thumb, but fatter – completely secured along it’s length to the branch, and looking very solid. The small circles on the outside are almost like little hatched eggs – these have confused me, as whatever is inside would have had to crawl in after making them, rather than spinning a cocoon around itself? It is as if it needed extra armour. Inside is something which is filling the whole cavity, and looking a bit furry icon smile Rusty Tussock Moth Cocoon and Eggs from England
Luigi
Surrey, South East England

emperor moth cocoon eggs england luigi 300x171 Rusty Tussock Moth Cocoon and Eggs from England

Rusty Tussock Moth Cocoon and Eggs

Hi Luigi,
This is a most interesting situation.  Before we saw your location was England, we were certain that this must be a Cecropia Moth Cocoon.  It is actually a Small Emperor Moth Cocoon, Saturnia pavonia, which can be viewed on the Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa website.   Eggs are typically laid in neat rings around the twigs of the food plant, and it seems like the moth that emerged from this cocoon was a female and she laid her eggs on her own cocoon.  We are going to contact Bill Oehlke with this unusual situation and he may request permission to post the photos on his own website.

emperor moth cocoon eggs england luigi 2 300x270 Rusty Tussock Moth Cocoon and Eggs from England

Rusty Tussock Moth Cocoon and Eggs

Correction:  Rusty Tussock Moth Eggs and Cocoon
March 28, 2010
Hello,
These are not the eggs of a saturniid but rather the rusty tussock moth (Lymantriidae: Orgyia antiqua), which is native to Europe but is now found throughout North America and elsewhere.  It is typical of this species and a number of other tussock moths for the eggs to be deposited right on the female’s cocoon, because the females are flightless.
There is a photo similar to these in my new book, “Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates,” which I think y’all might enjoy.  There is some information about it here: http://www.northernnaturalists.com/invert_tracks.html
Cheers,
Charley

Ed. Note:
We found a matching photo on Wikipedia.

Thank you so much for your reply – that’s really interesting.  I’ve just had another look at it, and there is definitely something still inside the cocoon, so the moth has not yet emerged (I see that the UK flight time starts in mid-April).  I haven’t noticed any larvae of the kind, and no larvae damage to the plant (a Hebe). I wonder if something else entirely has laid its eggs on this cocoon?

Posted 28 March 2010 § Eggs § Tussock Moths ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Yellow caterpillar with long lashes and longer black tufts
February 26, 2010
Hi, WTB,
Again, from last summer (2009), a solitary larva (probably the same individual in these two images taken within an hour at the same spot) in late June.  Length (without hair), not quite 2″.  Southern Arizona; Santa Rita Mountains, between 5,100′ and 5,400′.
Denny

tussock cat denny 300x199 Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tussock Caterpillar

Hi Denny,
Sorry about the delay in responding, but our free time seems to have vanished with several looming deadlines and a great deal of job responsibility.  This is some species of Tussock Moth.  It greatly resembles the caterpillar of Halysidota tessellaris, the Banded Tussock Moth, but we don’t believe Arizona is part of the range of the species according to BugGuide. BugGuide also mentions a very similar species in the Southwest, Halysidota schausi, but there is no photo.  We followed a link to the Butterflies and Moths of North America, but only a photo of a mounted adult is pictured on that site.

tussock cat denny 2 300x212 Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tussock Caterpillar

Hi, WTB,
Thanks for the info.  I’m running into the same sorts of non-definitive IDs (and in a couple of other places) that you encountered.
The area where the caterpillar was observed is a “destination” for birders, and it has a fairly constant flow of automobile traffic from all over the country throughout the year.  Perhaps a stowaway from out of the region.  This was the only example that I observed at that time and during the many days (over several months) that I spent there last summer.
Again, thanks.
Denny

Posted 06 March 2010 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars

spiny caterpillar
February 22, 2010
bugman,
found this caterpillar on milkweed last summer in northern illinois forest preserve. Can you please identify it
renu
Illinois, USA

milkweed tussock cats renu 300x239 Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars

Dear renu,
These are Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars, Euchaetes egle.  You may find more information on BugGuide.

Posted 23 February 2010 § Woolly Bears ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Hickory Tussock Moth

Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar?
January 11, 2010
This caterpillar was found October 19, 2009 in area between pond and wetland woods. I think it is a banded tussock moth, but I am not sure and I would like to record it correctly.
Michelle
Western New York State-US

hickory tussock cat michelle 300x170 Hickory Tussock Moth

Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Hi Michelle,
There is much variability in the coloration of the caterpillar of the Banded Tussock Moth, Halysidota tessallaris, which may be viewed on BugGuide.  Our doubt, and probably your doubt as well, stems from the very black dorsal line evident on your specimen, which is lacking in most of the BugGuide images.  The description, according to the Caterpillars of the Eastern Forests website, is:  “Gray, dirty tan to yellow-brown with long paired white and black lashes on second and third thoracic segments. Those of second thoracic segment projecting forward beyond head. Eighth abdominal segment with third set of lashes. Dark medial dorsal tufts often forming dorsal line.”  We think a closer match is the Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Lophocampa caryae, which is also pictured on BugGuide.  Your caterpillar is one of the Arctiid Tussock Moths, and not a member of the Tussock Moth family Lymantriidae.

hickory tussock cat 2 michelle 300x206 Hickory Tussock Moth

Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar

3

Posted 12 January 2010 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Predatory Stink Bug eats Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

Carnivorous Orange Beetle
Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 6:37 PM
My wife spotted this pair in the backyard. I don’t know the identity of either bug, but found the scene quite interesting. I’m just curious what was sucking the life out of what.
Dave
Beloit, WI

stinkbug eats gypsy cat dave 258x300 Predatory Stink Bug eats Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

Predatory Stink Bug eats invasive Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

Hi Dave,
We located a nearly identical image on BugGuide, except that three Predatory Stink Bugs in the genus Apateticus are feeding on a Gypsy Moth Caterpillar.  Sadly, BugGuide does not provide any information on the genus and a nymph or immature insect, like the one in your photo, is often quite difficult to identify to the species level.  We can tell you that the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar, Lymantria dispar, is an introduced pest species.  BugGuide has this to say about the range of the Gypsy Moth:  “Native to Eurasia, introduced to North America at Boston, Massachusetts circa 1869 and has been spreading ever since ( US Forest Service ). Michigan, Pennsylvania, and all states to the north and east of these.  Also much of Wisconsin.  Also the northern parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.  Most of West Virginia is included in the insect’s range, as well as parts of Virginia and North Carolina.  The United States Forest Service estimates the moth’s range is spreading south and west at a rate of about 21 kilometers per year.  In Canada, the Gypsy Moth is present in British Columbia and in much of eastern Canada. “  BugGuide has the following comments with regards to food, life cycle and general remarks:  “Food Many hardwood species.  A very partial list includes Red Oak, Cherries, Willows, Hickories, and Pines.  Over 500 spp. of plants are known hosts.
Life Cycle In late summer females lay up to 1,000 eggs per egg mass.  The eggs overwinter and hatch in the Spring.  Larvae feed heavily and do considerable damage to forests.  Pupation typically occurs in mid-Summer.
Remarks Etienne Leopold Trouvelot, an amateur entomologist, brought Gypsy Moths into the United States to see if they could be successfully reared for silk culture.  Around 1869 some of Trouvelot’s charges escaped from his home near Boston.  Realizing the potential magnitude of the problem, he reported the escape but no action was taken until the infestation grew serious several years later. Trouvelot later became interested in astronomy and astronomical illustration, and eventually became a Harvard professor of Astronomy. ”

stinkbug eats gypsy cat cu dave 300x218 Predatory Stink Bug eats Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

Predatory Stink Bug eats invasive Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

Posted 07 July 2009 § Stink Bugs and Shield Bugs ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: ,

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

scorpion caterpillar!
Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Hello! Outside in our garden I found a caterpillar that looked like it was pretending to be a scorpion.
I have no idea what it is, I am from the UK so dont know much about american bugs.
Any ideas?
Rich
central Illinois

tussock cat rich 300x241 Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Hi Rich,
This is a Tussock Moth Caterpillar in the genus Orgyia, probably the White Marked Tussock Moth, Orgyia leucostigma, which BugGuide describes as: “Caterpillars are recognized by the bright red head and broad black stripe along the back flanked by a yellow stripe each side.  Two red glands on  sixth and seventh abdominal segments, and four tufts of hairs (which may be white, gray or yellowish) on the first four abdominal segments are common to several members of the genus.
CAUTION: Contact with hairs may cause an allergic reaction.
Adult females, which are pale grey, are wingless and therefore flightless. “   We are amused that you described this caterpillar as looking like a scorpion, because you have a species in the UK, Stauropus fagi, the Lobster Moth Caterpillar, which really, really looks like a scorpion.  We posted a photo of the Lobster Moth Caterpillar in September 2005 from England and more in August 2007 from Japan.

Posted 14 June 2009 § ‡ Comments (2) °

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