|
|
Post by papilio28570 on Aug 21, 2011 13:44:35 GMT -8
This cat was photographed earlier this month and an ID is requested. Most believe it to be a Papilio larvae, I think it a Noctuidae larvae. Any help greatly appreciated Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by papilio28570 on Aug 23, 2011 16:58:17 GMT -8
Anyone willing to take a stab at it? Family? Genus? ....
|
|
|
|
Post by nomihoudai on Aug 23, 2011 21:12:14 GMT -8
Nolidae ? They have those enlarged body sections if I am not mistaken.
|
|
|
|
Post by homard on Aug 24, 2011 3:57:59 GMT -8
It has nothing to do with Papilionidae for sure. Here you can see the pics of the most common North American swallowtails: www.raisingbutterflies.org/hostplant-identification/swallowtails/My bet it could be a caterpillar of some Elaphria sp. (Noctuidae, Elaphriini), by it's unique swollen first segments. Unfortunately, there are only photos of the caterpillars of 1-2 species all over the Web. You can look here: bugguide.net/node/view/44257Your best option could be to raise the imago from this cat  Then it would be much easier to ID... Best regards, Alexei |
|
|
|
Post by prillbug2 on Aug 24, 2011 14:41:02 GMT -8
It's Elaphria versicolor. There's a photograph in Wagner's Caterpillar's of Eastern North America. Also, the caterpillar was described in William T.M. Forbes in Lepidoptera of New York and neighboring States in 1954. The new Owlet Caterpillar's of Eastern North America by Wagner may give further photographs of the other species, if no one agrees with me. It feeds on pine, spruce and fir.
Jeff Prill
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Aug 24, 2011 14:55:12 GMT -8
All of the larva of Elaphria look very much alike. The straight line on the center of the back is the distinctive mark of Elaphria festivoides.
There are 11 species known to North America and I have only seen the larvae of two species (live caterpillars) and pictures of two more species.
|
|
|
|
Post by papilio28570 on Aug 24, 2011 18:45:03 GMT -8
Thank Jeff and Leroy. Been a great help. Credit for the photo goes to: "Loretta" <butterflies_bg@triad.rr.com>
|
|
|
|
Post by homard on Aug 25, 2011 16:06:52 GMT -8
Glad to see my guessing about Elaphria was correct, taking into account I'm living in Russia and I am not a specialist in Noctuidae ;D
Regards,
Alexei
|
|
Then it would be much easier to ID...