We have a TON of caterpillars on a sunflower. It's hard to decide if I should take them off so the plant will grow and get seeds for the birds or let the cats get nice and fat then bring a few in to see what butterflies they turn into.
I have narrowed it down to either Silvery Crescentspot, Gorgone Crescentspot, or Bordered Patch based on my book and our area (Outside of Fort Worth) but I can't find any pictures of the caterpillars of these.
It's so funny, we just moved here over the winter and I planted Lantana, Eupatorium, and Fennel to try and get some swallowtails and none yet, but yet I plant sunflowers and I get some that I didn't ask for. LOL
Anyone have pictures of these t ypes of cats? The ones on the plant are black with some orange along the sides.
Trying to figure out what type of cats we have
Can you show us a photo of them?
here is the description for the silvery checkerspot:
dark brown black, wide yellow orange lateral band and several rows of black spines , black head
Gorgone: yellow orange with black longitudinal stripes, black branching spines and a black head
These are descriptions from my Butterflies of the Carolina's. No description of the border patch.
The two I describe above looked similar to a buckeye or an American Lady upon first glance. They were definately NOT green and hairless like the sulphur cats.
Good luck and post a pic!!!!
Let's try. It's not a very good picture.
Also, there were dozens and dozens of them on the plant before my husband watered the garden. I found this one by itself but the way they are grouped together reminds me of the checkerspots that were on my Rudbeckia a couple years ago.
From your description, I would have to agree that it does sound like a Chlosyne (checkerspot) invasion of your sunflowers. Here are some images of adults and cats:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=chlosyne%20larvae&btnG=Search&sa=N&tab=wi
Oh, I would love an invasion on my sunflowers! I just saw a Checkerspot the other day on my Frogfruit. They would be much better than all the nasty aphids under the leaves but the ladybugs love those aphids.