Please ID these caterpillars

Please ID these caterpillars. I found them on Mexican Butterfly Vine- Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides.
These were hatched today. The eggs were orange and round- like Swallowtail eggs. They look like Orange Dogs but on the wrong plant. I left them fresh leaves of lime and the MBV.

Thanks for any help you can give. This vine grows in my butterfly pot ghetto. I have Lime, Viburnum, Hop Tree, Passiflora, Dill, Rue, Tulip tree, Sassafras tree, and heaven knows what else.

Thanks again for your help.,

Maggie

Another shot. I have plenty, my private photog ( DH) and you can let me know if you need more.

Maggie

Maggie,

They definitely look like first instar Giant Swallowtail caterpillars. Maybe the female laid eggs on the wrong larval host plant?

The lime, hop tree and rue should be some of their larval hosts. Their own egg was their first meal and they should do well for a day on that...but they will need fresh food quickly. Have they made use of the lime you placed in their cage?

Out here they use tangerine, orange, grapefruit, prickly lime (colima), barreta and torch wood as larval hosts. On very rare occasions have they used rue.

As far as I know Mexican Flame Vine isn't a larval host for anything but it is a great nectar source.

~ Cat

Cat,

That's what I thought too! No, they walked off the lime. Hvowever, not one to be deterred, I picked them all new foliage this AM- including the tenderest, juiciest lime leave from plants that were used last year. It occurred to me I have 3 new Wild Limes and they may actually have been treated with a pesticide for Green Dragon Disease. I didn't see the expected tags but those may only be required on citrus considered food plants for people. I don't think I made that mistake but if I did, it's taken care of. Also, just in case my BFs are REAL dumb, I gave them a fluffy frond of fennel. I expected BSTs would lay about 20 feet away in the bed I have just for them.

Thanks for replying so fast. I'll keep you up to date.

Maggie

You know I've got a back yard full of larval hosts - many which overlap somewhat. Am terrible at cutting back (pruning) so they often get intertwined and covered by some of my nectar plants...funny thing is I've never had a butterfly lay eggs on the wrong leaves.

Perhaps there was some type of chemical residue on your plants? That had not occured to me until you mentioned it. Hopefully the newest leaves will do the trick. My BSTs will be praying for your BSTs :o)

Which by the way, the eggs I noticed a few days ago have all hatched. Got gobs of teeny tiny cats on the rue. I need to take those plants over to the neighbor to watch over since I'll out of town for several weeks. His young son is into raising butterflies this year so hopefully my giving him different species to raise will keep him interested.

~ Cat

FYI-

The cats voted with their feet last night and spent the night on the Lime. This AM, they were voting with their mouths and eating the Wild Lime. Ooh Rah, i'm so pleased!

Maggie

Yea! Sometimes I think certain cats are just a little "slow". I've got two Giant ST cats right now feeding on my Hercules' Club. When I saw your photo I thought that's what they had to be, but it's nice to know for sure!

Melanie

Hey Mellie,
I'm coming back down to Tampa to see my BFF for a couple days. I'd love to get together if you have time. PLMK if I have any plants/seed/cuttings you'd like.

Maggie

I always have time! When are you coming?

This W/E.

M

Cool! On Saturday Mom and I are participating in the butterfly census for NABA. We go to the training class tonight. Other than that, I'm free.

Melanie

You've got Dmail.

Maggie