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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) » Tortoiseshells (Nymphalis) » Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vau-album)
Photo#56516
spiny caterpillar - Nymphalis vau-album
Copyright © 2006 tom murray

spiny caterpillar - Nymphalis vau-album
Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
June 8, 2006
This caterpillar was eating leaves on an ash tree. I didn't find a match in Wagner's book, and was wondering if this might be a Compton's Tortoiseshell, because I do find them at this location.
I took the caterpillar home, and will try to rear it.

Images of this individual: tag all
spiny caterpillar - Nymphalis vau-album spiny caterpillar - Nymphalis vau-album spiny caterpillar - Nymphalis vau-album
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Contributed by tom murray on 8 June, 2006 - 7:14pm
Last updated 9 June, 2006 - 11:13pm

Let me know what hatches
I have been finding tons of these same caterpillars at Wildcat Ridge. See photo here: http://www.pbase.com/cbernz/image/61387019

The one in the photo is red, but today I was seeing mostly black ones (later instar perhaps?). I matched them up to Compton's Tortoiseshell using "Caterpillars in the Field and Garden." Most of the other similar Nymphalids seem to have pale spikes instead of black, except Milbert's Tortoiseshell (which has small white dots instead of large white spots and streaks).
… Cliff Bernzweig, 9 June, 2006 - 9:29pm login or register to post comments

 
Compton's
Cliff, thanks for the info on the identification. I thought it was similar to the commas in Wagners book, except like you noticed, the spikes were the wrong color.
If you're seeing lots of caterpillars now, maybe there'll be a good summer flight.
… tom murray, 9 June, 2006 - 11:13pm login or register to post comments

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