|
| I found this one on a Wild Senna plant (Cassia hebecarpa) eating just on the bloom heads. I saw him first on the 11th and again on the 12th and then we had some heavy thunderstorms. Haven't been able to locate him since. Is there enough to make an ID or are all photos and observations too little and too early?
Thanks, Bob
|
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by bananasinohio (My Page) on Sun, Aug 15, 10 at 13:02
| Is it tiny? It looks like a Lycaenidae caterpillar. Perhaps a summer azure (Celastrina neglecta)? They lay eggs on a variety of flower buds and eat the flowers. However, I cannot find any pictures of one to confirm. -Elisabeth |
|
| Well we don't hardly get them those far south but I was reviewing cats in my butter fly book and I believe the one you have pictured there is one called the "Common Blue" way north of my region. But I could be wrong... |
|
| From the pictures in my book, I was guessing Common Blue also. Size would help to determine id. |
|
- Posted by bananasinohio (My Page) on Mon, Aug 16, 10 at 8:03
| Which blue do you mean? I don't have my butterfly books in front of me and am not aware of a common blue other than Polyommatus icarus, which is a European species. Another guess would be a gray hairstreak, Stymon melinus. Here is what Wagner's "Caterpillars of Eastern North America" Says; "Often green with oblique dark reen line above each spiracle" "Pale subspiracular stripe runs from T3-A7" "Setae over dorsum rather long for a lycaenid, nearly half as long as a segment that bears them. Setae from subdorsal selling often with minute dark bases." Also the Eastern Tailed blue, Everes comyntas; "Integument with conspicuous peppering of small white (or sometimes black)star shaped setae (best viewed with lens). Usually with darkened middorsal line and prominent subspiracular stripe" "Setae prominent, longest hairs about one-third length of segment that bears them. Larva scarecly exceeding 1 cm." Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) caterpillars lack the star-shaped setae." My guess is gray hairstreak, but whatever s/he is, s/he is cute! -Elisabeth |
|
| Could it possibly be the Eastern Tailed Blue? http://www.buglifecycle.com/?p=380 |
|
| I second Elisabeth: Lycaenid of some sort, and the host plant and location narrow it down to either Gray Hairstreak or Eastern Tailed Blue. The Summer Azure eats a lot of different things, but I don't thing legumes are among them. Here's a promising caterpillar gallery: http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/butterfly_caterpillars |
|
| I think it is probably a Gray Hairstreak. What's great about this CD-ROM (Butterflies of North America...Scott) is that it has pictures of eggs, cats, and adults, plus natural history info. Gray Hairstreaks use Cassia (Senna). But, there's always a new butterfly host plant that's not cataloged. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Species Strymon melinus - Gray Hairstreak (Caterpillar Pictures from the Bug Guide)
|
- Posted by David Wright(wripenn@aol.com) onWed, Apr 13, 11 at 23:31
| Bob, This is a hairstreak larva. Because of the time of year and fabaceous host, it must be Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). David PS - Lovely shots by the way. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Butterfly Garden Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.