Caterpillar Help needed

[tchuanye]

hi all!

I posted this at CS, and Papilo directed me here for expert help.

I saw this caterpillar at lower pierce...and the cocoon is very interesting.

appreciate any help on the ID, and also, is the cage structure really the cocoon?

Many thanks!


Taken with
FZ10+6t+Sigma CU, F8, ISO 50, 1/60s ext flash
A610+rev lens F8, ISO 50, 1/160s ext flash

#1: Hello!...(A610)


#2: Am I In prison? (A610)


#3: Nah.....just my new home...(FZ10)

[stingrey]

CY,
Nice to see you around.
Nice shot but can't help with the ID.

[tchuanye]

CY,
Nice to see you around.
Nice shot but can't help with the ID.

I should not be surprise to see you here.....heh heh....since you shoot many butts! Good to see you!

[Commander]

Let's wait for Dr Kendricks to come in and help ID this critter...

Nice cage!

[Silverstreak]

Hi Tchuanye ,

Interesting Cat you have there....

hmm maybe fluorite can help too...

[Peacock Royal]

Hi Tchuanye ,
Welcome to BC.
Great shots there. So have you seen the final "cage" ?

[tchuanye]

Thanks! Unfortunately have not seen the final cage.

But some have said that the cat will build a cocoon in the cage rather than the cage being the final cocoon.....can't confirm that.

[hkmoths]

Hi All,

Can't really tell from the front view.

CY - could you take a side (lateral) shot - this would give a view of the prepupal larva that shows the whole animal in focus.

There are several groups that have been observed to create these lattice like structures before pupating, namely Atteva and Plutella spp. (family Yponomeutidae) and Cyana spp. (Arctiidae). Your larva looks bigger than any of these and the lattice work is very different. I wonder if it is an Arctiidae though - some of the species are called woolly bears owing to the profligate amount of long hairs they sport in the larval stages. Other options might be in Lymantriidae or even Lasiocampidae.
May have to await the adult's emergence to get a firm i/d, though.

cheers,

Roger.

[tchuanye]

Hi All,

Can't really tell from the front view.

CY - could you take a side (lateral) shot - this would give a view of the prepupal larva that shows the whole animal in focus.

There are several groups that have been observed to create these lattice like structures before pupating, namely Atteva and Plutella spp. (family Yponomeutidae) and Cyana spp. (Arctiidae). Your larva looks bigger than any of these and the lattice work is very different. I wonder if it is an Arctiidae though - some of the species are called woolly bears owing to the profligate amount of long hairs they sport in the larval stages. Other options might be in Lymantriidae or even Lasiocampidae.
May have to await the adult's emergence to get a firm i/d, though.

cheers,

Roger.

Wow, thanks for the info. Here is a side view. Hope this can confirm the ID.

[hkmoths]

The larva is reminiscent of some Lymantriidae (especially the genus Arctornis), though I have not yet found any descriptions that match this lattice work cocoon.
Will almost certainly have to await the emergence of the adult moth to find out who this intruiging wee beastie is.

cheers,

Roger.