30 August, 2023

Deduced Graphic Moth

Does anyone have a larval description or photo of Bulia deducta? I haven't been able to find anything online at all. Surely, in nearly 250 years, someone has described that caterpillar?

Posted on 30 August, 2023 06:37 by k8thegr8 k8thegr8 | 2 comments | Leave a comment

24 July, 2023

Confirmation of Pygarctia abdominalis larva!

We finally have confirmation of the larval stage of Pygarctia abdominalis! The awesomest @royaltyler raised these larvae on the most intimidating host plant, the Texas bull nettle. They emerged after only 11 days.

All the details here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171096598
Thanks so much for adding to our life cycle knowledge!

Posted on 24 July, 2023 04:56 by k8thegr8 k8thegr8 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

12 April, 2021

Spring Fever

Last year's experiment of keeping up with trending caterpillars was a bit of a fail. It was quite a year!
I'm sorry for my extended absence, but hopefully I can be available more often. Moving is a pain!
Let's see those caterpillar finds!

K8 =)

Posted on 12 April, 2021 03:11 by k8thegr8 k8thegr8 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

09 April, 2020

Early April

The Southern states are getting lots of activity these days. There are starting to be reports of dagger moths (Acronicta sp.). The Erebinae family is going strong, along with the usual tiger and tussock moths. Charadra species are starting to be reported, as well as prominent moths.
The East coast is starting to get tent caterpillars (Lasiocampinae).
The Southwest and East/Central Texas are showing lots of reports of the Sonoran tent caterpillar (Malacosoma tigris), which I don't remember from last year.
The West coast is still reporting lots of tiger moth activity, and are now seeing some Vanessa species of lady butterflies.
It's starting to be a busy spring!

Posted on 09 April, 2020 00:26 by k8thegr8 k8thegr8 | 2 comments | Leave a comment

26 March, 2020

Late March

We're really getting spring started now! Still seeing tons of tent caterpillars (genus Malacosoma) being reported all over the US.

The very southern US is starting to report all kinds of underwing caterpillars (genus Catocala), especially in Texas, as well as some other Erebinae.
The Gulf coast region is still reporting tons of fir tussock caterpillars (Orgyia detrita), but I think the first white marked tussock (Orgyia leucostigma) has been reported in Texas today.
The checkerspots (Melitaeini) and three Orgyia tussock species are going strong on the West Coast.
The tiger moth caterpillars are still going strong on the East Coast and the Great Lakes areas, especially the Virginian ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica) caterpillar.

The most exciting news for this week is the first report of fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea) in Texas. I'm sure everyone is excited for those!

Posted on 26 March, 2020 04:37 by k8thegr8 k8thegr8 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

14 March, 2020

Mid March

Tent caterpillars! Genus Malacosoma are being reported on the east, west and Gulf coasts, along with Genista broom moth caterpillars (Uresiphita reversalis).
The Eastern half of the country is still reporting lots of Haploa genus tiger moths.

The West Coast is still reporting lots of checkerspot butterfly larvae, and a few buckmoth (Hemileuca sp) caterpillars have been spotted as well.

A few underwing moth (Catocala sp) larvae have been reported in the last week in various locations.

I can't wait to start finding caterpillars again!

Posted on 14 March, 2020 01:27 by k8thegr8 k8thegr8 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

05 March, 2020

2020

Spring is starting, and I'm going to try out an idea that I've had for a while. In trying to identify various caterpillars from around North America, I get to see what species are booming at certain times of year. I'll be trying to keep a record of those events in journal form. Nothing fancy, but it might be interesting for comparisons from year to year.

3-4-2020
The winter we had in the Texas was very mild this year so I'm starting to see some early dart and cutworm moth larvae reports.

Florida seems to be reporting quite a few Isabella Tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) larvae already, along with some Erinnyis sphinx caterpillars.
Lots of tiger moths are being reported in California, Silver-Spotted Tiger moths (Lophocampa argentata) and what might be Apantesis ursina down the coast. There are also lots of Checkerspots being found in California. There have also been a couple of reports of the Pacific Green Sphinx (Proserpinus lucidus) larvae there.
The Northeastern and Great Lakes area have submitted some observation of tiger moth larva in the last few days, some of which are Isabella tigers.

Posted on 05 March, 2020 02:53 by k8thegr8 k8thegr8 | 2 comments | Leave a comment

Archives