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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Apr 26, 2012 12:33:40 GMT -8
I found this guy in a pitfall trap today and do not seem to be having any luck getting an id on it. It didn't seem to like being posed for the photo and curled a bit and drew up as well. It is a bit longer when active and not in defense mode. When I tried to measure it, it drew up to 4.5 cm, even shorter in the photo. I want to try to rear it to adulthood, but need to know who it is, at least to some degree, so I can figure out how to care for it. Attachments:
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Post by admin on Apr 26, 2012 17:48:36 GMT -8
Yes, it could very well be in the Arctiidae familiy (tiger nmoths). The capterpillars have a habit of traveling over ground from place to place. Try feeding it dandelion. Just a hunch. I could be wrong. We need Grinter to weigh in on this.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Apr 26, 2012 18:41:44 GMT -8
It is an Arctid: Spilosoma virginica. It will eat about anything. Plantain, Dandelions, Phlox, etc. It is in the fifth instar. If you found it wandering on the ground, it is about ready to pupate.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Apr 26, 2012 19:51:24 GMT -8
I followed up on that name, but I am unsure about it. Bug guide states that it is covered in long soft hairs, but this one has very stiff hairs. Also, the size of the caterpillars nearest to pupation in the images ranged from around 25 to 38mm. This one is 45mm when drawn up in a defensive posture. When stretched out, it appears to be more than 5cm, but I cannot get a good measurement because it draws up each time I get close to it.
edit:
I put some dandelion leaves in there and it is going through them very quickly. While it was eating I managed to get a good measurement. This guy measures in at 5.5cm long and it is as big around as my little finger.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on May 13, 2012 14:57:18 GMT -8
How long does it usually take for one of these to pupate after it quits eating? The only time it ate was when I first put the leaves in there. After that meal, it just went under the leaf litter and has been very still ever since. I thought it was going to pupate, so I left it alone for a while, but it never did. After about a week, I took it out to see if it had died, but it squirmed when I grabbed it. It also made it's way back under the litter when I put it back. It has been more than 2 weeks now since it quit eating and it is still alive, but not moving (unless disturbed) or pupating.
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ckswank
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Posts: 239
Country: USA
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Post by ckswank on May 13, 2012 16:12:50 GMT -8
Wonder if it could be Hypercompe scribonia (Giant Leopard Moth). Can you see any red between the segments when it rolls up? Bugguide says larvae can reach 75 mm. They are fairly common here in Texas & also found in Georgia. Males are good sized & females are quite large. Hard to find a good wild specimen because the wing scales come off easily during flight and usually there is very little white left on the wings. Let us know if it pupates & what it turns into.
Charlie
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