Moth or sawfly, now you can do the leg count!

I'll guess sawflies, because in the eggs picture, you can see a few hatchlings, and it looks like their hind legs are up, like sawflies. They'll need to grow some to be sure, though.

Sherry

You know what they remind me of by the behavior without counting legs? You identified some caterpillars on my redbud for me last year. The red humped ones. Off to go and see if I can get a better picture.

Those eggs are cool looking!

Whatever they are, they are feisty little guys. I had to turn the leaf a little and they stood to attention.

Sawflies always do that when disturbed.

Sherry

Whoa !! They do look like they are ready to strike or do a dance!! eeks! Great close up pictures !!

Don't forget about the Datana caterpillars (click here) of which there are many species. They exhibit that posture, too.

Again, Iris, it always helps to know what kind of plant.

They are on a white oak. I figure they have to grow a bit. I am having a hard time even counting legs. I think they have 5 sets of prolegs. Hard to see. I just thought it was really cool how they arranged themselves in the shape the eggs were on the other side of the leaf. Today I was fascinated how something managed to lay eggs in such a straight line on a flimsy piece of fennel. Probably bad news, too. Sadly no Black Swallowtail.

And here they are today. Sorry for the blurry picture. I was going for legs...

They do appear to be missing legs on segments A1 and A2, 5 pair indicates a noctuid moth.

Red-humped cat also has red face and does not have the forked tail segment of those pictured above. Datana may be a good bet.

Are the eggs on the fennel barrel shaped or round? I'm not positive from the image but they look like little barrels.

They are little barrels.

In my memory, barrel shaped eggs = stink bugs!

Double checked if they are little barrels. There is something on there. An ant eating them? The caterpillars seem to be doing well. Organized bunch.

More super cool eggs! Great photo!

So it goes....

So, ladybug larvae are eating them. Since I don't know what the cats are, I can't say how good or bad that is, but it certainly is nature doing its thing.

Sherry

Must say it hurt my heart a little. Same when I see a spider with a bee or skipper. I don’t really understand why the other ones didn’t run for the hills though.

There are still a lot of them. Is it just me or do they take a really long time? Thought I would show a picture of them now.

'Looks like Rhizo was right, they're Datana ministra/yellow-necked caterpillars.

Still more azalea datanas/D. major are on some of my azaleas.

Sherry

Oh My!! I think, quite a few similar looking ones, dropped to the ground from my willow oak tree!! Eeeks! I will take a picture soon! I hope they do not fall on me!!