I have not found that Lantana is a host plant for any cats. Does anyone have information that I do not have. I am just looking up in some books I have so they may not have all information. Of course I do not have a picture (I never do, lol). But it is just long and green. Cannot believe I even found him as he was so camaflouged, but I was dead heading to get more blooms. I had read on here that the white lantana was a hybrid and probably had no nectar in it. I have seen a what I think is a cabbage white flying around it but that is about it. Any help of course is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Leslie
Just took my sis out there to show it to her and she found one on the same plant that is a light brownish color resembling a stick. It is the same color as the older branches of the lantana. It does not however look anything like the green one. HELP!!!
I will be glad to bring these in and raise them if I can find out what they heck they are.
Leslie
This message was edited Sep 9, 2007 9:14 AM
Found cat on my white Lantana
Hi Leslie, you found a caterpillar...long and green...boy, that narrows it down! LOL
Sometimes, if I can't find the host anywhere, I'll look at the family. Lantana is in the Vervain family or Verbenaceae, and the only one I found is the Phaon Crescent.....but, he's not a green cat. There are probably others and then there's the cats that aren't very selective about what host they choose.
Then, it could be a moth cat, there's a ton of those.
The Cabbage White's host is the Mustard family, Brassicaceae, probably not that one, but you never know.
Is there any way you could get a picture? That would help immensely.
I know, sorry flygirl. Pictures would help and I will try. I have looked up in my books and the closest I can come is the clouded sulfur or cabage white. As far as the pictures in my book those are the closest, but again they don't say anything about Lantana. Then the stick looking one looks like the irene underwing or mother underwing. These feed on popular and willow. Now c'mon, why can't I have normal cats here. Am going to try to get a pic right now. The only good thing about this is if I bring it or them in to raise I have plenty of food, this plant is huge. Stay with me flygirl I will be back.
Leslie
Oh and thanks as always.
Okay here goes. These are not good, I cannot take a good picture with this camera. So this probably is not going to help but for what it is worth.....
Terrible, I know, I will try another one.
These are worthless, I am so sorry. I am going to try to take some more.
Leslie
Okay, these next ones are going to be the best I can do. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have gotten close up, moved far back, used flash and nothing works. So I am sorry but these are the best I have of the two cats.
One more of the green one.
And the brown one.
Again I apologize for the quality here. I know I need a new camera but cannot afford one. I am thinking I just need to find out if any eat Lantana because I don't think these pics are going to help and again I am so sorry.
Leslie
Leslie, my camera doesn't do close-ups very well either. Do you have an editing program like Picasa? It's a free download. If you take a really clear pic from a distance then crop it with Picasa, it usually turns out well.
Sorry, I just can't tell what they are.
Rox
Thanks anyway, flygirl. I totally understand. I do have that picassa thing. So I may try that.
Leslie
leslie, I think you need to slow down and let the camera focus on the subject, looks like you are just missing it and getting clear shots of leaves around it, etc. Do you see any boxes in the view finder? If so use the center one as a target. Just a suggestion, hope you don't mind my imput.
Don't mind at all Sheila. I think I am just a bad picture taker. But I will try what you say. This camera, once you click the shutter then you have to hold for like 5 seconds and click it again. It is such a pain. I think by the second click my hand is probably shaking from tyring to hold a plant back with one hand and the camera with the other that there is no way to get a good pic. I am going to keep trying though. Thanks.
Leslie
I have one that you have to push the button just barely down to make it focus, but I put too much pressure on it and take the pic before I am ready. But just think, we aren't having to pay for development.....yea digital!!
Too true Sheila. Those things are finicky but it does make it easy to get pics on the site. Just in my case, not very good pics. LOL.
Leslie