This is our first year with passionflower vines, and this week we noticed some caterpillars on our Constance Elliot. Can anyone help identify this critter? They're really small, though I did spot one that was a little bigger than this one. Here's a close up.
Here's another pic - a little fuzzy, but shows the size in relation to the leaves.
Kaperc,
It's a Fritillary.
Here is the info for a search of butterflies available in San Diego County http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?dc=5504&_dcc=1&si=5
and butterflies that use Passiflora for a host plant.
http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-curation/projects/hostplants/list.dsml?PFamily=Passifloraceae&PGenus=&PSpecies=&Country=USA&sort=Family
Enjoy,
Maggie
Thanks, Maggie.
Of all the web sites I searched, why on earth did I miss that first one? Of course, it helps to know what you're looking for, which is where the second one comes in!
Kathleen
I've got those two bookmarked for just that reason.
You're welcome,
Maggie
kaperc, congrats on your cute little fella! From one newbie to another - I've found the easiest way to id cats is to identify the host plant they are feeding on, then locate that plant on a host plant list and it's name will probably be right there! Sure saves me a lot of time. Good luck with your butterfly gardening.
Debra
Debra, yes that makes sense. The little fellas are growing leaps and bounds. I can see them from my window now. It will be interesting to watch them.
My two beautiful passifloras are gone, gone, gone to these babies. It has been awesome watching them. I guess the passiflora will leaf out again next year -- do I need to cut it back?
Gosh, I hope not! DH has been tending this plant daily to keep it growing in the right direction across our beams. The main trunk is getting quite large. I read somewhere that they bloom on new growth, though. There's a passiflora forum (new!) so perhaps you could post the question there.
Thanks! I'll check it out.
