Was at the ranch and saw gobs and gobs of Bordered Patch caterpillars on the sunflowers there...couldn't help but bring some back with me. When I got home I went outside to check on the Bordered Patch eggs and realized they had hatched! Geez, there are gobs of tiny caterpillars on the leaves!
Here's a photo of the Bordered Patch life cycle I have so far.
~ Cat
Female oviposting on 042907 (these are the eggs that hatched today)
These are the first instar caterpillars. So many on the leaf...this is just one little section!
~ Cat
This message was edited May 6, 2007 10:47 PM
These are some photos from the Bordered Patch caterpillars on the sunflowers at the ranch. These look to be second instars.
~ Cat
These are some of the fourth instars I brought back. I tell ya'll...there are thousands out there. Sunflowers grow wild along the dirt/gravel road leading to the ranch. The road runs five miles off the main highway...normally takes me 10 minutes to drive through there (it's bumpy)...but today it took me about 30 minutes...I was driving really slow and stopping when I saw bigger sized cats on the sunflowers :o)
Sure wish ya'll lived closer - would gladly let ya'll go caterpillar rustling!!!
~ Cat
This message was edited May 6, 2007 10:48 PM
Oh Cat! You've done it again with some totally amazing shots! Thanks for documenting the Bordered Patch life cycle on this new thread! You ROCK, cat!!!! :-) :-)
With that population rate, suppose they should be up here soon.
Oh boy!
The caterpillars are growing quickly...they've doubled and tripled in size. Voracious eaters too...glad there is plenty of sunflower around!
~ Cat
Super good pic Cat!!
One of the Bordered Patch cats pupated. Here's the chrysalis.
~ Cat
Oohhh, what a pretty chrysalis! And great looking cats too!
