Hatchlings of the Red Tiger Moth

Description:

These are the 1st instar larvae hatching from the 90 eggs laid by a female Red Tiger Moth. The eggs were less than 1 mm in diameter and mustard yellow when deposited 26 Sept. 2018 (2nd picture). The eggs did not turn different colors during development. The 3rd picture shows caterpillars that are several hours old (with darker coloration) newly hatched larvae (still almost yellow) and several eggs which are about to hatch. You can see the head capsule of the larva clearly inside of the eggs. The larvae are 2 mm in length. Egg deposition to hatch took 15 days. In the 1st and 4th pictures, you can see that they are eating their egg shells. There are remaining shells of all sizes with chew marks. I released these larvae into a field full of plants (5th picture). The Arctiinae are supposedly generalized feeders and hopefully they will survive and grow into more of these incredible moths (last picture). For the spotting of the adult moth, see: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/130....

Habitat:

San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico 2,200 meters.

Notes:

89 of the 90 eggs hatched.