Interesting Caterpillar!

11 years ago

I was looking for tiger swallowtail and red-spotted purple eggs on some very low branches of a small wild black cherry tree, when I saw this -

When I first saw it, the 'legs' were flat on the leaf, but when the little yellow fly touched it, it thrashed its 'legs' wildly over its head. It must be a white furcula, as opposed to other furculas, since it's on cherry, which is also the only one with a solid colored back. The pictures in my best caterpillar book show three different types of furculas - there might be another type that also uses cherry, I don't know.

I was looking for red-spotted purple eggs, because I had just seen an adult high up in a cherry tree near my house. I couldn't actually see her laying eggs (she was too far away) but I saw her slide down the leaves to reach the tip of the leaf, like they do when they're laying eggs.

So, I'll keep looking. They do a good job of spreading their eggs around, so I should be able to reach some soon.

Sherry

Featured Answer

Mary Leek

11 years ago

Sherry, you find the most interesting looking creatures! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Hope all is well in your part of the country. After being away from home all last summer, I'm so looking forward to this season. My garden is a mess as no one was here to look after it but if I work a bit each day, I hope it will right itself by end of summer.

Mary

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Comments (6)

Rhonda
11 years ago
Sherry,
That's one beautiful cat and an amazing picture! I can't believe that you were able to catch the fly in the shot. Perfect timing! I need to go check my cherry trees now. LOL

Rhonda
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KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
11 years ago
Those are legs. What I remember is those are highly modified anal prolegs and the caterpillar is able to flick frass with them. Very cool find.
MissSherry
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, all! I went back later this afternoon to check on it, and it was eating the leaf, undisturbed.

I know what you mean, Mary about getting the garden back in order. I'm still working on mine!

Rhonda, I was very lucky, the little fly just happened to land on the leaf while I was taking the picture. It stayed longer than I thought it would, what with the caterpillar thrashing him and me poking the lens in its face! :)

KC, I just remember reading something about 'anal' in my book, so I didn't think they were real legs.

The picture of the adult shows a not-too-bad-looking moth, with quite a bit of white on it, hence, I suppose, the name white furcula.

Sherry
dragonflydee
11 years ago
KC that's interesting,thank you!

DD
Holly Fischer
11 years ago
Gorgeous caterpillar! Wow!