| Author | Content |
TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 17, 2006 3:57 AM Post #2399580
| Can anyone identify this caterpillar? I haven't been able to pinpoint it down on the internet.
I live in zone 9 - the deep south tip of Texas. I think it is some type of moth caterpillar.
It is about 3/4" long, yellow in color, furry/hairy and has several longer tufts.
I saw four of them feeding on my duranta bush. Am assuming there are more but as I can't identify it I didn't want to go snooping through the branches for more in case they are some kind of stinging cats.
~ Cat
...please see additional photos of front end and back end.
This message was edited Jun 17, 2006 4:01 AM
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DonnaB
Vancleave, MS (Zone 8b)
June 17, 2006 5:14 AM Post #2399744
| the closest I could find is Yellow Bear but pics don't show if it has a dark face or not like yours does. None of my books list duranta as a host food but does list woody shrubs so... |
TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 17, 2006 8:54 AM Post #2399929
| I thought Yellow Bear as well but these guys are a nice bright yellow.
Here's another photo of the face...there is a white "X" or something like an inverted "Y" marking on the forehead.
~ Cat
This message was edited Jun 17, 2006 4:03 AM
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TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 17, 2006 8:59 AM Post #2399934
| ...and another photo of the back end...it has two dark looking flappers? flippers? appendages?
~ Cat
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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DonnaB
Vancleave, MS (Zone 8b)
June 17, 2006 1:31 PM Post #2400329
| that helps. How about one of the Tussock Moths. Closest I could come to is the Banded Tussock moth |
PiggyPoo
Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a)
June 17, 2006 4:45 PM Post #2400922
| LOL I don't know what the heck that is, but I sure got a giggle out of the flipper/flappers. Don't know why that hit me so funny, but it did LOL |
konkreteblond
Burleson, TX (Zone 8a)
June 17, 2006 4:52 PM Post #2400950
| It's so cute! My 7yr old came by and said "it looks like Doogal", which is a cartoon dog. lol I certainly don't know if Cat doesn't know! I'm interested tho so I might Google too. |
PiggyPoo
Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a)
June 17, 2006 5:46 PM Post #2401097
| I've been searching through the Whatsthatbug.com site, and also came up with a tussock. the pale tussock moth. but then i came across something else, on the page. which was The Laugher, Charadra deridens. Anyone want to look at these, they are on the 3rd page of caterpillars on whatsthatbug.com, because i am certainly no expert at this. i was just enjoying the hunt!
PiggyPoo :0) |
konkreteblond
Burleson, TX (Zone 8a)
June 17, 2006 6:56 PM Post #2401304
| I'm saying it's definitely some sort of Tussock moth but there are just so many variations. The pic on that site of the Pale TM didn't even look like other pics I Googled.
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TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 17, 2006 9:22 PM Post #2401703
| Flippers...flappers...I still won't touch 'em :o)
I've googled everyone's suggestions...it sure does look like some type of tussock moth...am leaning toward something in the Tiger Moth family, arctiidae.
I put four of them into a cat cage...I'll keep them fed and let's see what these "Doogals" turn into.
~ Cat |
TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 29, 2006 4:40 AM Post #2446110
| Okie dokie...this furry yellow cat turned into this fuzzy/hairy looking cocoon.
~ Cat
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 29, 2006 4:43 AM Post #2446116
| ...and one has since turned into this little yellow moth :o)
~ Cat
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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PiggyPoo
Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a)
June 29, 2006 4:46 AM Post #2446121
| Cute :) |
TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 29, 2006 4:59 AM Post #2446165
| ...ps...haven't figured out what kind of moth it is either :o)
~ Cat |
konkreteblond
Burleson, TX (Zone 8a)
June 29, 2006 11:09 PM Post #2448766
| Is it's body furry yellow? yellowish white? I think they look like they have on little fur coats. |
DonnaB
Vancleave, MS (Zone 8b)
June 29, 2006 11:44 PM Post #2448871
| is it anyone of these. This is a good moth ID site
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/Files/Live/Living5... |
TexasPuddyPrint
Edinburg, TX
June 30, 2006 2:55 AM Post #2449697
| I'm quite lost when it comes the little moths. I'm lucky if I can figure out what those big sphinx moths are...and truly the only one I recognize is the Pluto Sphinx and Black Witch as I've had those in my yard.
Frankly they all seem to have the same coloring after a while :o)
~ Cat |
konkreteblond
Burleson, TX (Zone 8a)
June 30, 2006 3:33 AM Post #2449853
| There are only a few small moths that I recognize in my yard and I've not been fortunate enough to have Luna's or Promethea's etc.
I was looking at this site agreeing that they all look the same, and then I came to this page. Look at #11055 and 11108! Pretty little things!
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/Files/Live/Living5... |
Magpye
NW Qtr, AR (Zone 6a)
July 2, 2006 4:30 AM Post #2457119
| .. TexasPuddyPrint/Cat ..
Think .. that this one, may could be your lil buddy. Referred to as the Santa Anna Tussock moth (Lophocampa annulosa).
Take a look-see .. and if so; seems that these folks may be in need of some photos and additional input, also. Quoting:Attributes of Lophocampa annulosa
Family: Tiger Moths and Lichen Moths (Arctiidae)
Subfamily: Tiger Moths (Arctiinae)
Identification: Not reported
Life history: Not reported
Flight: Not reported
Wing span: Not reported
Caterpillar hosts: Not reported
Adult food: Not reported
Habitat: Not reported
Range: Not reported
Conservation: Not reported
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Occurrence maps, species accounts, checklists, and photographs
Here > http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3783
And, these sites ..
http://bugguide.net/node/view/39051/bgpage
http://www.marylandmoths.com/Html/Arctiidae/Arctiinae/Phaego...
- Magpye |
