CLOSED: Tiny Red Caterpillars eating Hibiscus, New Orleans, LA

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sunnyg San Francisco Bay Ar, CA(Zone 9b) Jun 27, 2011

Any thoughts on an ID would be much appreciated. Thanks!

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flatpickit Charleston, SC Jun 27, 2011

I think that these could be 1st instar Io Moth caterpillars, Automeris io. The larval foodplant is correct and it compares well with the images below. The adult is quite beautiful (second link).

http://bugguide.net/node/view/210837/bgimage

http://bugguide.net/node/view/382570/bgimage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Automeris_io_1st_instar_2_sjh.JPG

This message was edited Jun 27, 2011 9:12 PM

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sunnyg San Francisco Bay Ar, CA(Zone 9b) Jun 27, 2011

Thanks so much flatpickit!

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Jun 30, 2011

and if you touch one, you will be screaming "mama"! ouch!

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sunnyg San Francisco Bay Ar, CA(Zone 9b) Jul 02, 2011

I did a little more digging, and saw that too. Ouch!!! ;-)

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Sheila_FW Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 02, 2011

Thanks, we have them here so I will know if I see that cat. They look like a bf cat, so I definately would have brought it inside and been stung.

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sunnyg San Francisco Bay Ar, CA(Zone 9b) Jul 03, 2011

Yikes, I'm glad you saw this thread then, Sheila! Later instars are quite exotic looking, and the moth itself is lovely.

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Sheila_FW Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 04, 2011

Yes, a lot different. I would have recognized the green with tuffs and pin stripes. But I had no idea they started out orange. http://bugguide.net/node/view/405

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Jul 04, 2011

just another reason i always wear gloves in the garden. i had some on roses a couple of years ago (they were just to the green stage) and blended in really well. i was just getting ready to prune when i saw one. i had gloves on and didn't touch one but it was a good warning for me. i use Bt on the plants and they were gone in a few days.

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