Subject: Orange caterpillar with black spike-like hairs
Location: Córdoba, Argentina
March 2, 2016 1:41 pm
I would like your help in identifying this species of caterpillar. Has you can see in the photos, is body is bright orange with some sort of clack spikes and little black hair all over the body.
They appeared on a creeper-weed like plant, and seems to be quite the number on them in a small area.
Its summer in here, with days with high temperature and high humidity and rains, so it’s possible the plant and/or the bugs are travelers of these stormy weather.
Thanks a lot for any input in the mater.
Signature: López, Eduardo
Caterpillar
Dear Eduardo,
We have not had any luck finding any matching images online from Argentina, but your caterpillar reminds us of the Polka Dot Wasp Moth Caterpillar or Oleander Caterpillar, Syntomeida epilais, a species found in the Caribbean and in Florida. We believe your individuals are either members of the same genus, the same subtribe Euchromiina or a member of the Tiger Moth tribe Arctiini, depending upon how closely they are related. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in this identification. Knowing the name of the “creeper-weed” upon which they were feeding might help.
Caterpillar
Update: March 16, 2016
Today we got a comment from Eduardo that included these two images. Our general identification remains unchanged, and this is most definitely a Wasp Moth in the subtribe Euchromiina. We will check with Julian Donahue to see if he can provide an identification.
Wasp Moth
Wasp Moth
I like ThisRelated posts:
En el día de ayer encontré la misma oruga cayó de la morera vivo en Río Ceballos Córdoba Argentina
I captured one and at the next day it started to make a chrysalis. Two weeks lather this moth/butterfly emerged, and it has not much resemblance with the Polka dot wasp moth, so the mystery continues
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3_ylsFih84JSDdnbkFYT0lZNlk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3_ylsFih84JeDBmUXVEWnY0Vmc/view?usp=sharing
Thanks for the images Eduardo. These are surely Wasp Moths in the subtribe Euchromiina. We will attempt to provide you with a species identification.
HOLA EDUARDO
TE T POR E MAIL. ESTOY INTERESADO EN LAS FOTOS DE LAS ORUGAS PARA UN PROYECTO EDITORIAL. SALUDOS, LUIS VOLKMANN
Amigos : la polilla de abdomen rojo es en mi opinion Eurata igniventris (capturada en Cordoba ) NO MUY FRECUENTE
DATOS DE MI FICHA
Nombre Eurata igniventris Burmeister, 1878
Comun vientre de fuego
Taxonomia Familia: Erebidae
Subfamilia: Arctiinae → genus Eurata → especies Eurata igniventris
Distribucion ARGENTINA
Descripción
Larva
Hospedera
Cedron Aloisia citriodora
Plaga
Sinonimos Eurata igniventris; Hampson, 1898,
Referencias
Muchas gracias.
Muchas gracias, estaré atento por si vuelven durante la primavera/verano.
Thanks a lot, i will pay atention for if they return during spring/summer.