I just found these on my grape ivy. I usually find members of the sphinx family on it so it may be one of them. Anybody know?
ID on larvae needed
I don't know what they are, but that's interesting. I'd be interested in knowing what they are myself.
Just found out - these are sawfly larvae. UGH!!!!!!!
~ Cat
Here's a photo of one of the clusters I photographed yesterday at the ranch. (and boy they sure do poop gobs and gobs! UGH!!! Was thinking of raising some but they are a messing lot)
This message was edited Oct 24, 2009 7:05 AM
I originally thought they were vine sphinx larvae but now found out they are sawfly larvae.
They were on cissus vine which is used by the Vine Sphinx. Here's a photo of a Vine Sphinx third instar I found on the same vine. Now this looks more like the sphinx caterpillars I know. You can see beginning of the anal horn and it has shed it's spots :o)
~ Cat
This message was edited Oct 24, 2009 7:07 AM
A fourth and fifth instar also found on the same cissus vine. That fifth instar was huge!!!
~ Cat
A photo of the moth - these show up at night on the brickwork near the mercury vapor lamp by my garage. Not sure what they are feeding on near my house - I don't have grape or cissus around. I did start growing a Virginia Creeper vine in the hopes of getting a female to lay eggs on it. Time will tell. At least I know the stinky cissus vines at the ranch attract them!!!
~ Cat
Great photos, Texas! I've never seen any of these before. Guess I'll have to get some grape vines growing.
FYI: I edited my posts above - the larvae in clusters are Sawfly Larvae. UGH!!!!
~ Cat
tpp are the sawfly beneficial? They and this one I just took a month ago love the grape ivy. I read that the larvae will bite, did you ever get bitten?
Haven't gotten to the moth ID site to ID this one but I looks to be from the sphinx family but have to research which one. The markings are so subtle on some of these I have to keep switching back and forth from their pics to mine for a good ID. If you know off hand let me know.
Also I am posting a larvae I found today that I have never seen. Could you ck. it for me?
Thanks
Your caterpillar is a Vine Sphinx - look above at my photos of the two caterpillars (Post #7158047).
I've not heard of sawflies being beneficial. As far as I know they are real pests.
~ Cat