CLOSED: Pupa??Skipper caterpillar?? related, or not?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
vitrsna Colima, Mexico(Zone 11) Jun 16, 2015

Hello. I found these two small life forms on the wild Ruellia (Acanthaceae) today. The caterpillar is just a little short of 1" (2.5cm) and i am thinking it might be a skipper but am not sure. I really wonder what the 1st photo might be. They were both found on the same plant. The first photo i am wildly guessing to be some kind of pupa. I don't know if it is related to the caterpillar. I put the larva photo there to show what other life forms are on the same plant and maybe as a clue to what the first photo is. What do you say, bugniks?

Thumbnail by vitrsna Thumbnail by vitrsna
Post #10095585
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jun 16, 2015

The object(s) in the first image could be just about anything, including plant seeds or egg cases; the caterpillar looks more like a noctuid than a skipper...

Post #10095742
Quote
vitrsna Colima, Mexico(Zone 11) Jun 16, 2015

Thank you Flap...yes, i did find an image of a noctuid caterpillar looking very much like the ones on the Ruellia. I don't think the first image is of plant seeds, at least they are not Ruellia plant seeds. I guess i'll keep watch and see how it develops. I've surely not seen anything quite like it before so it would be nice to find out. From a brief look at the description, it doesn't appear that the noctuid moths cause much of a problem in the garden?

Post #10095843
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jun 17, 2015

With the exception of cutworms/armyworms (see http://entomology.unl.edu/turfent/documnts/cutworms.shtml), most noctuid caterpillars are not serious pests...

Post #10095890
Quote
vitrsna Colima, Mexico(Zone 11) Jun 17, 2015

They don't appear to be cutworms or army worms...still, i thinned out the numbers somewhat.

You are correct in thinking the first image could be plant seeds. The top one appeared and photographed orange/coral in color and that threw me off. On closer inspection this morning, they were two Ruellia seeds stuck together at right angles with some kind of webbing or fibers but it was not a sturdy bond. :-)

Post #10095989
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP