Caterpillar Equipment
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Caterpillars /ˈkætərˌpɪlər/ are the larval stagee of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).
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This was one of a number feeding on a ceanosis in a neighbour's garden. The adult male of the species is easily recognisable by their rich reddish brown forewings. The females are virtually wingless and are unable to fly and remain close to the papal cocoon. They are found throughout Europe, temperate Asia, Siberia and the USA. As with most hairy caterpillars, the bristles are connected to venomous glands and function as a defensive barrier to would-be predators and cause irritation to the skin. They feed on the foliage of various trees and shrubs.
The Spanish moth, Xanthopastis timais (Cramer), is unmistakable for any other moth in Florida. The larvae are likewise very colorful, and have been called convict caterpillars. The larvae are occasional pests of lilies, mainly in Amaryllidaceae.
Last week, I was having lunch with some friends in a park near a children’s playground. We witnessed a young child running after a Monarch butterfly that was hovering over some small milkweed plants. Immediately, we tried to persuade the child not to catch the butterfly. His grandma quickly came to the rescue and redirected the child away from the butterfly. Then we saw the Monarch land on a few leaves. My friend thought she may have laid some eggs. Sure enough, we saw 4 eggs….. 2 on each plant. My friend and I gently pulled the small plant out by the roots and each took one home. We put it in water and kept them safe in our garages with hopes the eggs would hatch. I am happy to say we now have three very hungry caterpillars in our garage and I feed them fresh milkweed leaves from my garden. My friend also has baby caterpillars. These guys in the image are about 4-5 days old. I am hoping that the grandma in the park is going to read Eric Carle’s well known children’s book to her grandson and explain why it was a good thing he did not catch that butterfly. The book is called “ The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” PS. The Chrysalis in my garden is still hanging but should soon have a Monarch emerging.
Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis)
This is the larvae of a Tussock Moth, adults and larvae both have dangerous barbed hairs and should not be handled and can be painful.
The name Yellow-tail comes from the slight yellow smudge to the wings of the male adult moth.
Photographed last September 2017.
The only creature (that we can catch), so far, that I have had to say no to Evan holding due to the potential rash or irritation it can cause.
This time Alice waited patiently until it chose to speak again. In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass ...
~L. Carroll, J. Tenniel -1865
I see Swallow Tails in the area, but never in the garden feeding. But I bought the plants anyway, in the hopes they would use them.I thought at least maybe the rabbit will much on it. The yesterday I found 9 caterpillars!