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BugGuide Gathering
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July 10-12, 2009
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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies (excluding skippers) (Papilionoidea) » Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae) » Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc. (Nymphalinae) » Ladies and Red Admirals (Vanessa) » Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Photo#303299
UI caterpillar - Nymphalinae? - Vanessa atalanta
Copyright © 2009 Abigail M. Parker

UI caterpillar - Nymphalinae? - Vanessa atalanta
Beck Park, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
July 13, 2009
Size: 14 mm, ~0.5 in
To my great surprise, 15 days later this was a Red Admiral - I really thought it was one of the other Vanessa species, an American or Painted Lady, until it opened its wings.

----- original ID Request text, July 13 2009 -----
Branched spines and no scoli on head makes me think of Vanessa, but the colors of those larvae are so variable, especially at early instars!

It's recently molted or about to molt, the head capsule of one instar is stuck to the head of the new instar.

Found on ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia), which is related to thistle, the favorite food of Vanessa c@rdui.

Images of this individual: tag all
UI caterpillar - Nymphalinae? - Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral caterpillar - Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral caterpillar - Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral caterpillar - prepupa - Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral chrysalis - Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral - reared from caterpillar - Vanessa atalanta
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Contributed by Abigail M. Parker on 13 July, 2009 - 10:27am
Last updated 29 July, 2009 - 8:34am

Moved
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… Abigail M. Parker, 28 July, 2009 - 8:10pm login or register to post comments

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… Abigail M. Parker, 18 July, 2009 - 8:29am login or register to post comments

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