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Rice Paper Caterpillar

Idea leuconoe

Description:

Black and white with four pink spots

Habitat:

urban garden

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33 Comments (1–25)

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 10 years ago

Thank you Lorraine.

LorraineDianeLafleur
LorraineDianeLafleur 10 years ago

Oh wow , This is Cool. Awsome Spot and Shot Noel. :)

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks vale1!

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks RiekoS!

RiekoS
RiekoS 11 years ago

Beautiful spotting.

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks Francis!

FrancisQuintana
FrancisQuintana 11 years ago

Great series!

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks Bine!

Bine
Bine 11 years ago

Beautiful caterpillar.

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

@Andres: Thanks!
@Agnes: Sure!

AgnesAdiqueTalavera
AgnesAdiqueTalavera 11 years ago

Hello Noel.. would love to have this in our Butterflies in the Philippines mission (http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/1555...). Thanks!

DinDjarin
DinDjarin 11 years ago

CHUUUUZOOOOOOOOOO!!!
WOW!!!

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks Ismael!

Ismael Chaves
Ismael Chaves 11 years ago

Wow these ones are amazing

EarlyStages
EarlyStages 11 years ago

Martin, MHO of your below caterpillar links:
1. misidentified light form of Idea hypermnestra (if not, something extraordinary is happening with I. leuconoe larvae)
2. yes, I. leuconoe
3. yes, I. leuconoe
4. I. hypermnestra dark form (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrclean/300... for close-up photo)

EarlyStages
EarlyStages 11 years ago

Thank you for the information, Noel. I have personally raised and photographed the immature stages of I. leuconoe from egg to adult on several occasions, most recently from the Philippines (courtesy of a colleague) and Taiwan (my home for nine years). I also possess images of I. hypermnestra larvae, both light and dark forms, that were shared by fellow researchers and rearing associates. Since much of this study is unpublished, members interested in substantiation should consult the following scientific literature:

"The cladistics of Ideas (Lepidoptera, Danainae)" by Kitching et al.: Cladistics 3(1), 14~34, 1987
"Milkweed Butterflies, their Cladistics and Biology" by Ackery & Vane-Wright, 1984
"The life histories of Euploea crameri bremeri and Idea hypermnestra linteata (Lepidoptera, Danaidae)" by Kirton et al.: Malay. Nat. J. 36, 37~43, 1982
"The Life Histories of Asian Butterflies Vol. 1" by Igarashi & Fukuda, plate 73, 1997
"Contributions to the knowledge of the Lepidoptera of the Philippines II" by Nässig & Settele: Nachr. Entomol. Ver. Apollo, Supplement 14, pages 64 & 65, 1995

FYI, butterfly parks often import pupae from other countries to supplement resident species, which can certainly produce "unnatural" results if the facilities aren't carefully regulated. Witness Thailand's Phuket Butterfly Garden and Dryas iulia, a beautiful South American escapee whose descendants have spread southward and are now colonizing Malaysia. I've never been to Quezon City, and was simply voicing the disconnect between what is reported for the Philippines and what your fine photos show. Thanks again for sharing, Noel!

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks martini for the info. Now, the jury is still out on this one. Peace!

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

Here is a wiki image of Idea leuconoe http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:I...
The caterpillar does seem to have numerous red spots in soe images
http://tcfarm.blogspot.com.au/2010/03/ri...
http://www.pawsforwildlife.co.uk/rice_pa...
Idea hypermnestra larvae have darker banding according to http://bpals.blogspot.com.au/2001/01/ide...

EarlyStages
EarlyStages 11 years ago

This caterpillar is a perfect match for Idea hypermnestra (light form) . . .
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/75806...
. . . rather than I. leuconoe:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8425/75806...
Note number of filamentous processes and pinkish spots. Since I. hypermnestra doesn't occur in the Philippines naturally, I wonder if these photos were taken inside a butterfly house or tourist exhibit.

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks MayraSpringmann!

MayraSpringmann
MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

Wonderful!

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks patty! I am glad you like it :-)

patty
patty 11 years ago

Beautiful caterpillar; its colours and pattern are amazing. Thank you for sharing and great pictures Noel =)

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Thanks Hanno! I

Hanno Shalaby
Hanno Shalaby 11 years ago

good photo !
I enjoyed to look at this

Noel Buensuceso
Spotted by
Noel Buensuceso

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Spotted on Jul 14, 2012
Submitted on Jul 14, 2012

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