Lorquin's Admiral caterpillar

Description:

Fifth Instar Lorquin's Admiral caterpillar found in back yard of Western North Carolina mountains under Red Oak, Black Cherry and Sugar Maple trees. After identifying this Western USA species, the current stage and offering food(which was rejected) the caterpillar was placed in a terrarium with likely food source branches. It quickly attacked to a branch and began metamorphosis.

Habitat:

Under deciduous trees in backyard bordering base of Phoenix Mountain on western flank. Phoenix Mountain is heavily populated with deciduous hardwoods: Red, White, and Water Oaks, Black Walnut, Hickory, Sugar Maple, Yellow Locust, Birch, along with Yellow Poplar, upand a few White Pines. Understory is many native wildflowers, ferns and small shrubs. Black Bears, Red and Gray Fox, Wild Turkey, Bobcats and an occasional Panther roam, along with a healthy White Tailed Deer population.

Notes:

The chrysalis is currently advancing to completion with rapid changes. Today, July 23, 2020, it has gone from hanging in a vertical position to a 45° swing left followed by a 45° swing to the right! Which is current position, all in four hours or less. An emergence container is constructed into which the chrysalis will be placed soon. Having lived here almost 40 years, this is the first Lorquin's Admiral caterpillar ever seen. No major storms recently but there were strong winds out of the northwest two to two and a half weeks ago.We've never seen a Lorquin's Admiral butterfly, it being a Western U.S. species! But we're anxiously awaiting the arrival of the butterfly!