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Bell's Paradise Skipper, final instar

Phocides metrodorus nigrescens Bell, 1938

Description:

Nocturnal caterpillar with a powdery white body and a reddish head with two yellowish orange spots. This is the final instar before pupating. Before the final molt they are red with yellow bands, see the second link for pictures.

Habitat:

A fruiting rambutan or mamon chino as it's known here (Nephelium lappaceum) tree in an orange grove.

Notes:

It's interesting to note that most sources only list plants from the guava family as a food source for the larvae, so Nephelium lappaceum may be a till now unknown host plant. Also, they create a shelter to hide in during the day by folding a leaf and sticking the edges together with silk. Update: I originally ID'd this as the larva of Phocides polybius lilea. But when the caterpillar went to pupate, I collected the pupa and put it in a ventilated container in order to observe the the adult. The adult looks like Phocides metrodorus nigrescens. The pupa can be seen here, http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/720... And the adult here, http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/711...

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4 Comments

SG in CR
SG in CR 9 years ago

Gilma, you can see the butterfly this caterpillar turned into here,http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/711176010

SG in CR
SG in CR 9 years ago

Maria, thanks!
Gilma, you can check our the second link in the references to see pictures of what it looks like at different stages in it's development.

So white and beautiful!! Lovely caterpillar, Sigg.
I have to check what the Guava Skipper looks like.

Maria dB
Maria dB 9 years ago

Really like the second photo a lot!

SG in CR
Spotted by
SG in CR

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Spotted on Jul 27, 2014
Submitted on Jul 28, 2014

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