I found this larvae inside an organic paprika that was from Spain but bought in Sweden. It had survived in the refrigerator for a couple of days before we were about to eat the paprika and noticed that someone else already had called dibs on it. ;)
It was about 2 cm long. As you can see in the picture it was green on its back and pale yellow underneath. It had light orange spots on the sides with a black dot inside every spot. The head was greenish brown. It sure looks like a butterfly larvae but what species?
Butterfly larvae found inside paprika
No clue...was it dead? I would think so but sometimes nature surprises us.
Quote from meezersfive :
No clue...was it dead? I would think so but sometimes nature surprises us.
No, it was alive and busy eating.
I am guessing that it is some kind of a moth since it was almost hairless. I think moth larva usually are kinda smooth.
More likely a moth caterpillar; possibly in the superfamily Pyraloidea. I'll see if I can dig up something more definitive.
Quote from Flapdoodle :
More likely a moth caterpillar; possibly in the superfamily Pyraloidea. I'll see if I can dig up something more definitive.
Thank you Flapdoodle, you’re amazing having an answer to all identification requests in this forum!
I will look around in that superfamily as well.
Post a Reply to this Thread
More Insect and Spider Identification Threads
-
Butterfly larvae found inside paprika
started by klego
last post by klegoApr 17, 20255Apr 17, 2025 -
Butterfly larvae found inside paprika
started by ivk
last post by ivkApr 23, 20252Apr 23, 2025 -
Butterfly larvae found inside paprika
started by ivk
last post by ivkApr 23, 20252Apr 23, 2025 -
Butterfly larvae found inside paprika
started by emblue
last post by emblueApr 24, 20253Apr 24, 2025 -
Butterfly larvae found inside paprika
started by PitterCol
last post by PitterColApr 30, 20252Apr 30, 2025
