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Spodoptera ornithogalli, (Guenée, 1852)
It is a life cycle of a very common species in Texas. The eggs are small and yellow but will turn black when it is about to hatch. The 2nd instar as shown is black with two white lines running down both sides of the caterpillar. The fourth instar is the same as the 2nd instar but much larger. the 5th instar is also black but has light blue and black triangles running down both sides of the body. The cocoon stage is bright red and 15 mm. long. The adult has many patterns and is silver to the look.
Sub-urban, Fort Worth, Texas.
These specimens were found feeding on Bell pepper and Amaranth leaves. They can also feed on alfalfa, asparagus, bean, beet, cabbage, clover, corn, cotton, cucumber, hops, grape, grass, jimsonweed, morning glory, onion, pea, peach, peanut, sweet potato, swiss chard, tobacco, tomato, turnip, wheat, watermelon, wild onion. Their distribution is from North America to Argentina.
Spotted on Jul 9, 2020
Submitted on Jul 13, 2020
2 Comments
Thank you Tukup, sure dose.
The thumbnail looked like Abby's fingernails from NCIS 😄. Thanks for sharing Ornithoptera.