silver-spotted tiger moth (or nameless arctiid moth) feeding on California lilac
Lophocampa argentata (or Lophocampa sobrina) feeding on Ceanothus sp.
Rhamnaceae
Lophocampa argentata (or Lophocampa sobrina) feeding on Ceanothus sp.
Rhamnaceae
It's always a thrill for me when I find a striking caterpillar or two. I'd even say these are pretty. These pictures were taken in a friend's expansive yard just south of Point Lobos, so I can't be sure if the Ceanothus is native or a garden variety. The visual addition of periwinkle and pride of Madeira made for an awesome sight of intense purples and greens. It's too bad I didn't get a step-back habitat photo.
As for the ID of the moth, I am sure it's a Lophocampa sp., but I'm not absolutely positive it's a silver-spotted tiger moth. Based on their size, I suspect these have another instar or two before they're ready to pupate into adult moths. Almost a year ago, bb of biobabbler, Chris Grinter of The Skeptical Moth, and I had a discussion of L. argentata on her blog post of a mystery caterpillar. Most of the L. argentata caterpillar pictures found online are tannish-orange in overall color. In my defense, there are whiter versions like mine (and, no, it's not due to a flash) that have been found at Point Lobos: BugGuide and CalPhotos. Additionally, the literature states the silver-spotted tiger moth feeds on conifers, particularly Douglas-firs. As shown above, they're definitely feeding on Ceanothus blooms. I wonder if location or food preference has anything to do with the color variation of the caterpillars... or if these locals are possibly a different species.
ps 03/23/11 - I originally posted this as silver-spotted tiger moth (Lophocampa argentata). Thanks to Chris Grinter of The Skeptical Moth, I queried Jerry Powell, professor at UC Berkeley and co-author of Moths of Western North America. The three of us had a brief e-mail exchange. Jerry seems to be unsure whether L. argentata and L. sobrina are indeed distinct species, contrary to what his co-author Paul Opler thought. The photo they used in their book of L. sobrina was feeding on blackberry and alder. With Chris's permission to quote him on my blog, here's what he e-mailed, "Yea I think there are deeper problems than just the identification. Only L. sobrina is known from the Monterey area - and identifications of L. argentata from that are are incorrect IF sobrina is a true species. Putting them side by side I do see differences, but they are incredibly superficially similar. I haven't taken a close enough look at the morphology or DNA to actually make a real call. This is a project for another day - but caterpillars of Lophocampa from that area would also be sobrina. The problem with caterpillars is that they are even more variable than adults..." Chris goes on, "I'd say sobrina is the name applied to that population right now. Who knows how long that will stick around for though, there are a few other Arctiinae species in coastal california that share this same problem." Thank you, Chris and Jerry! Who knows, I may have the very first pictures of L. sobrina correctly identified on the internet. Maybe Chris will get BugGuide and Calphotos to correct their pictures?
pss 03/27/11 - I've also contacted Paul Opler who advised me to try to rear these so that I can know for sure which species it is. Hmph! I think I'll do that.
pss 04/20/11 - I realized I haven't posted an update with pictures of this caterpillar. I ended up collecting one on 03/31/11 along with another all black caterpillar from the Highlands. As it so happens, today I spotted something fuzzy on the balcony and thought the one I had collected had somehow escaped. Nope. Now I have two of these caterpillars that seem to like feeding on fresh oak leaves.
As for the ID of the moth, I am sure it's a Lophocampa sp., but I'm not absolutely positive it's a silver-spotted tiger moth. Based on their size, I suspect these have another instar or two before they're ready to pupate into adult moths. Almost a year ago, bb of biobabbler, Chris Grinter of The Skeptical Moth, and I had a discussion of L. argentata on her blog post of a mystery caterpillar. Most of the L. argentata caterpillar pictures found online are tannish-orange in overall color. In my defense, there are whiter versions like mine (and, no, it's not due to a flash) that have been found at Point Lobos: BugGuide and CalPhotos. Additionally, the literature states the silver-spotted tiger moth feeds on conifers, particularly Douglas-firs. As shown above, they're definitely feeding on Ceanothus blooms. I wonder if location or food preference has anything to do with the color variation of the caterpillars... or if these locals are possibly a different species.
ps 03/23/11 - I originally posted this as silver-spotted tiger moth (Lophocampa argentata). Thanks to Chris Grinter of The Skeptical Moth, I queried Jerry Powell, professor at UC Berkeley and co-author of Moths of Western North America. The three of us had a brief e-mail exchange. Jerry seems to be unsure whether L. argentata and L. sobrina are indeed distinct species, contrary to what his co-author Paul Opler thought. The photo they used in their book of L. sobrina was feeding on blackberry and alder. With Chris's permission to quote him on my blog, here's what he e-mailed, "Yea I think there are deeper problems than just the identification. Only L. sobrina is known from the Monterey area - and identifications of L. argentata from that are are incorrect IF sobrina is a true species. Putting them side by side I do see differences, but they are incredibly superficially similar. I haven't taken a close enough look at the morphology or DNA to actually make a real call. This is a project for another day - but caterpillars of Lophocampa from that area would also be sobrina. The problem with caterpillars is that they are even more variable than adults..." Chris goes on, "I'd say sobrina is the name applied to that population right now. Who knows how long that will stick around for though, there are a few other Arctiinae species in coastal california that share this same problem." Thank you, Chris and Jerry! Who knows, I may have the very first pictures of L. sobrina correctly identified on the internet. Maybe Chris will get BugGuide and Calphotos to correct their pictures?
pss 03/27/11 - I've also contacted Paul Opler who advised me to try to rear these so that I can know for sure which species it is. Hmph! I think I'll do that.
pss 04/20/11 - I realized I haven't posted an update with pictures of this caterpillar. I ended up collecting one on 03/31/11 along with another all black caterpillar from the Highlands. As it so happens, today I spotted something fuzzy on the balcony and thought the one I had collected had somehow escaped. Nope. Now I have two of these caterpillars that seem to like feeding on fresh oak leaves.
9 comments:
both the caterpillar and blooms are very pretty!
I'd call this moth L. sobrina (also kinda matches the illustration in Powell) The coastal area around Monterrey is the common habitat for this moth, and they typically feed on Monterey Pine. However Powell notes in his book that the larvae can often be found feeding on random broadfleaf plants near pines as well. Arctiidae in general are ridiculous generalists and most will eat plain ol' green lettuce.
They are lovely!
Hey Chris, I forgot to ask in yesterday's e-mail, do you know of any online pics of L. sobrina cats? Did you check out my links to BugGuide and CalPhotos from Point Lobos that match the whiter ones I've captured on camera? Your 2 pics of the adults are the only L. sobrina I can find online.
what a beautiful caterpillar!
I love this picture. My husband always tells the children that any and all catepillars that are colorful are also poisonous. Is that true? We have seen a few doozies in our lifetime. Nice fat colorful specimens... florescent greens and reds.
Thanks everyone for your nice comments. I'm fairly pleased with my photographic find.
Allison, are you planning on eating any caterpillars? Like with mushrooms, I prefer not to ingest when I'm not sure. Lots of insects, indeed lots of living organisms, employ mimicry of bright colors, whether distasteful and poisonous, or not: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimicry. What I usually look for in caterpillars are spines, and sometimes those nettle-like spines are hidden underneath cute fuzz: www.bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2010/08/hawthorn-cedar-rust-follow-up.html. I did handle the caterpillars shown in my post and I can state they did not cause any irritation, despite a couple online reports that they do. My own experiences include raising io moths (yep, they sting) and gypsy moths (all the loose hair was a bit itchy) and monarch butterflies (I reared almost a thousand cats many summers ago and my biggest complaint was that they pooped a lot and it was noisy like rain in the middle of the night). Cheers!
Dood, you are KICKIN' butt and taking names! That's SO cool.
Sorry I didn't post your comment right away, I wanted to be sure I did it when I had time to READ your and my (4/2010) post re: cats. I love that you're corresponding with JP, THE MAN. =) You know, my caterpillar was not TOO far from our lilac trees (bushes??). Coincidence?!?
I SO admire your tenacity and follow through re: identification. PLEASE keep it up. You rock! =)
bb, I also contacted Paul Opler and he suggested I raise these to see what the adults look like. I haven't been back down to the Highlands to collect any cats and at this point I suspect they're already pupating.
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