Saga of the Flag Moth - Part 5

Description:

5 Jan 2013: These larvae are now about 8 cm long, 38 days after the first observation on the 28th of November. The 14 larvae devour 3 branches of their food source bush per day. They now clip the tips of the leaves off, which fall to the bottom of the container in a thick mat. Some of the larvae are beginning to lay down very fine mats of silk, both on the container and on the leaves (see last picture).

Habitat:

Host Plant: Flat-top Fragrant Goldenrod or Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Euthamia graminifolia.

Notes:

Part 1: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/165.... 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 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....