This is one of the three caterpillars I found on my passion flower vine, two of them (including this one) were large and another one was really small, so I guess the eggs were laid on the vine.
I’m hoping that somebody is familiar with this kind of caterpillar and can tell me what it will turn into when it grows up.
-Paul-
Too late! LOL
I was just looking through the comments about Maypop Passion Flower (the kind in the photo), and found that someone mentioned it being a host for the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, and sure enough, the photos I looked at on the web look just the same.
-Paul-
Looks like he may be one of the painful 'stingers' too ..
Is he ?
No - based on the research I've done on the web, I'm pretty sure that they do not sting, although I agree that they do look as if they would.
-Paul-
Here is the adult on my P.vitifolia (also a host) -- apparently a MAGNET as I never saw these butterflies until I had this plant, and Blooms saw the first while her hands still had dirt on them from planting it... and the vine had like three leaves at the time!
I haven't actually seen the cats, but considering the way the adult was *tracing* the wandering tendrils (looking for places for eggs?) I imagine I will be!
~'spin!~
There is another cat that looks similar to the gulf frit cat but it's host plant is oleanders.. and the end result is an oleander moth which looks more like a vibrant color wasp with polka dots than it does a moth.
Paaulw, what a handsome fellow that cat is. We of course don't have gulf fritllaries up here. We don't have near the variety that you people in the warmer climates have. Donna
My yard is full of orange frittilaries. The cats eat up the passion vine and then move over to the thunbergia to make the crysalis. I am glad the orioles like them or I would not have a passion vine left. This kids have played with them but no one has been stung.
Frogs, if the caterpillars eat on 'spin's passion vine it'll be okay as it needs pruning drastically - it's in process of encompassing the attached garage and starting on the house.
Wow, I wish I could grow caterpillars! I keep planting flowers the books recommend, but no caterpillars yet. I'll keep at it!
I found several of the orange cats, both tiny and large on the passion vine. This is the first year with it. I would like to put a cat in a container with a piece of the vine, for children to watch as a science expermint. Has anyone done this?
This message was edited Aug 28, 2004 11:19 PM
Well, well, well. Guess I'm late in this posting. Just had my host for the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly go into his metamorphizing stage in a 10 hour period yesterday. Here's how he/she/it looks now.
Paul, I think the gulf fritillary might be an endangered species. Do you know if it is? Seems like I read that somewhere. :-)
