A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Dysschema sp.
These little orange and black banded caterpillars were all grouped close together on 3 different leaves (also close together). They are about 10mm long, quite hairy and still very young, possibly 3nd instars). They stay close together on the leaves feeding with the head downwards. When a flashlight is shone on them for a minute or two they begin to crawl along the leaves. I have never seen them before so I brought 14 of them home to feed and to see if I can raise them to adults.
On the long thin leaves of a woody bush (Euthamia graminifolia, grass-leaved or Flat-top Fragrant Goldenrod) on the edge of an abandoned lot, semi-urban area on the edge of the city, 2,200 meters.
Part 2: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/167.... Part 3: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/169.... Part 4: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170.... Part 5: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170.... Part 6: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/214.... Part 7: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/214.... Part 8: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/215.... Part 9: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/212.... Part 10: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/221....
Spotted on Nov 28, 2012
Submitted on Nov 29, 2012
6 Comments
Thank you gatorfellows, those early instar larvae of the "Faithful Beauty" Tiger moth are remarkably similar. This is going to be fun to see what they become. Tiger Moth it may be!!
I looked for instars of caterpillars in your area. Sorry, but I was not able to confirm any ID. An informed guess is that these may be in the Tiger Moth. Arctiini. I found one in Bugguide whose early instars are very similar, but not the later instars. http://bugguide.net/node/view/133025 At least it might be a path to follow :)
Thank you for your help! I don't know what the woody shrub is that they are feeding on, I will get better pictures of it and post it and see if anyone knows. I do have mine inside the house (which is not that warm, unfortunately) at about 15º to 18º C.
These are not Gulf Fritillary because of the hairs. Gulf Fritillary have fleshy spikes. Do you have an ID on the woody shrub? Knowing the larval food source narrows the kind of caterpillars that they might be. With this photos and the new one you put up we have at least 2 instar photos. Most caterpillars go through 5 instars (molts) before forming their pupating. As for freezing temperatures, some species hibernate as an egg, caterpillar, or pupa. The ones you are feeding may be continuing to feed if you have them indoors, rather than going into hibernation. I will send you more information if I can Id these guys.
Hi Jellis, I'll watch them and see what they do.
wonder if they change color a little as they get bigger. Cause they look like Gulf Fritillary but without the bands.