Caterpillar found in pond on a lily pad with a huge hole in it. I'm not sure how it plans on getting back out of the pond! - Autographa - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) » Looper Moths (Plusiinae) » Plusiini » Plusiina » Autographa

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Copyright © 2007 Arthur Scott Macmillan

Caterpillar found in pond on a lily pad with a huge hole in it. I'm not sure how it plans on getting back out of the pond! - Autographa

Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California, USA
June 19, 2007
Size: about 3 inches

Quite large! I saw several lily pads with huge holes in them and decided to look at the underside. Sure enough, it was a caterpillar. Note: My pond is over crowded with lily pads so is possible to be under a pad and still be dry. I can't imagine this thing would do well in the water.

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Caterpillar found in pond on a lily pad with a huge hole in it. I'm not sure how it plans on getting back out of the pond! - Autographa

Caterpillar found in pond on a lily pad with a huge hole in it. I'm not sure how it plans on getting back out of the pond! - Autographa

Caterpillar found in pond on a lily pad with a huge hole in it. I'm not sure how it plans on getting back out of the pond! - Autographa

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Contributed by Arthur Scott Macmillan on 27 June, 2007 - 12:53pm
Last updated 14 January, 2012 - 7:29am

Moved

Moved from Bilobed Looper. Interesting - Wagner says Megalographa, pg 221 is easily recognizable by the fine hairlike spinules and you can see them in his picture but not in yours! Maybe A. californica?

… john and jane balaban, 14 January, 2012 - 7:29am

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Ah! Could be!

I did see both Bilobed Looper and Alfalfa Looper adults at that location.

… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 17 January, 2012 - 6:44pm

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Moved

Moved from Butterflies and Moths.

… john and jane balaban, 1 January, 2008 - 11:11am

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Has the look of the Bilobed Looper

Megalographa biloba, images in the guide here. It feeds on many different plants but we don't know if waterlily is one or not. A lateral view showing the abdominal prolegs would help cinch the ID, but check out the guide and see what you think.

… john and jane balaban, 27 June, 2007 - 1:28pm

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Thanks John and Jane!

I will see what I have, from the comments on the linked images I gather that three pairs of prolegs would be a strong indicator that is Megalographa biloba. Thanks for the info!

… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 27 June, 2007 - 4:32pm

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