Caterpillar ID and Plant ID too please

Okay...as ya'll know I'm temporarily in Brunswick, Georgia. I came across several of these caterpillars and a few chrysalids during one of my walks. Am not familiar with the butterflies of Georgia and even less so, the trees and shrubs here.

This is a photo of the tree/bush in bloom and the next photo is of the caterpillar.

Am thinking some kind of senna or rattlebox tree but as for the caterpillar...it looks like something from the skipper family. Please help me identify them.

~ Cat
(temporarily in Brunswick, GA)

Here's the larval host tree.

This message was edited Jun 25, 2008 6:28 PM

This is the caterpillar that was eating the leaves and had made a nest within the leaves as well.

~ Cat

This is a photo of the seed pods of that tree.

~ Cat

Another photo of one of the caterpillars.

~ Cat

I think your plant is Bladderpod http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/107662/ which would make the cat a Zarucco Duskywing.

Mellie,

I looked up that link...the blooms look very similar and genus sesbania is along the rattlepods/legumes...but the pods on this tree are four sided.

I've not seen a Zarucco Duskywing...but after looking that one up - am thinking maybe the Horace's Duskywings I thought I'd seen were Zarucco's?

~ Cat

What makes you think it isn't Rattlebox? http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1256/ My book says Horace's Duskywings cat's don't have that yellow stripe down their body either.

Sesbania punicea is also a host to the Zarucco Duskywing.
http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=Sesbania_punicea

wow have never found a cat on mine. I will have a ton of seeds very soon if anyone wants any. Some of the pods are turning black now. The butterflies, hummers and Orioles love the nectar from it. It does great in a pot and over wintered in garage for those that it wouldn't be hardy for or are in to dry a location. Just leave the bottom on the pot. It likes as much moisture as you can give it and thrives in the heat and humidity

Mellie...I never even looked up rattlebox :o) doh!!! But now that I did - it does look extremely similar but the leaves on the ones here seem smaller - or not so elongated. Perhaps it's just the variety? The blooms are very pretty though.

Donna...save some seeds for me...the ones out here are still green. Would love to plant some near the pond at the ranch. You did say they like moisture and humidity!!!


~ Cat

yes it does Cat

Just be careful as it can be invasive. That's why I stick to native plants.

Is this a caterpillar or some other bug? Can anyone ID it? I found it crawling on my grill cover.

Here is one other picture of it.

Looks like some type of army worm to me :o)

~ Cat

I think it may be a Sphinx moth due to the eyespot, will have to dig around and see if I can find it. I don't think the army worms have that, but the other markings do look like the armyworm.

Thanks!

I still lean towards some kind of army worm...they can be quite decorative.

Sphinx usually have horns and visible spiracles. Those of the ello family have eyespots on top but the tersas and plutos etc have them near the front end (to appear as a snake) - the caterpillar in your photo does not have any of those features.

Google army worm images...perhaps something there will look familiar?

~ Cat

You're probably right Cat, I can't seem to find a match.

Don't hold me to that Fly we'll not know for sure until someone can make a positive ID ~~~ but will say most times when I see anything that resembles an army worm it goes under foot!!! :o)

~ Cat

Oh, I hear ya!

Snuzer, can you raise him and see what he becomes?

I don't know if I can still find it, but I'll look!