I had a half dozen of these little guys devour my "jack in the beanstalk vine" within just a few days...then they wrapped themselves up in what very few leaves were left...
They must transform quickly, because this little guy is the only one I could find, and three days ago there were a half dozen...
What are they?...will they BE, I mean...?
Tahnk you
-T
Wow, that's a big worm! If it's folding itself up in leaves, then it must be a moth of some sort. (some huge sort!) Waiting on Kennedy...
I think it is a skipper butterfly larvae. I have tried to raise them with no luck.
You both have been helpful! Thank you!
I googled "skipper butterfly larvae", and took me a while to find a good photo of a caterpillar, but found some.
There were several leafrollers(some moths and some skippers!), but
The closest match seemed to be the long-tailed skipper called "bean leafroller". And, mine are on a type of bean...
Only thing is, the descriptions on these said almost an inch. Mine must be overweight! lol...They are over an inch. I'd say approaching an inch and a half...
I like skippers, but the sites listed this one as a pest...I was hoping it would turn out to be something a little more exciting, lol...
-T
According to my audubon field Guide, it looks like a Silver-spotted Skipper
I was just looking last night at Skippers and thought "that's what that huge cat was!" I'm not sure, but I think they are the only butterfly that does that, other make chrysalises. I had a new butterfly yesterday that I was trying to ID and was thinking it might be a large Skipper. Have you seen this guy before? (I can't get a pic with his wings open)
Not much to go on in your front-on picture, but it could be the Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/usa/607.htm
seedpicker_TX, I agree with melody. Your caterpillar is a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus). Here is a picture matching your very closely: http://bugguide.net/node/view/29032/bgimage
Thank you everyone!
I think it is, and I've been seeing those skippers all over the garden, so they must really be plentiful this year...
I don't remember seeing them last year...
-T
Thanks Kennedy, that's the one that I narrowed my search down to also. It sure is a big skipper, so I can see why that cat is so big! I will have to keep an eye out for these now.
