Variable Checkerspot caterpillar on Woolly Blue Curls
I found a caterpillar of a Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) butterfly on native Woolly Blue Curls (Trichostema lanatum, Lamiaceae) in the the woods today. It seems to be making some webbing. These checkerspot caterpillars typically feed on "scrophs" -- plants that used to be in the Scrophulariaceae plant family. It's curious to find this one on a shrub in the mint family, but I've found them here before, see this photo and this photo. (San Marcos Pass, 21 March 2024)
Variable Checkerspot caterpillar on Woolly Blue Curls
I found a caterpillar of a Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) butterfly on native Woolly Blue Curls (Trichostema lanatum, Lamiaceae) in the the woods today. It seems to be making some webbing. These checkerspot caterpillars typically feed on "scrophs" -- plants that used to be in the Scrophulariaceae plant family. It's curious to find this one on a shrub in the mint family, but I've found them here before, see this photo and this photo. (San Marcos Pass, 21 March 2024)