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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) » Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc. (Nymphalinae) » Nymphalini » Ladies and Red Admiral (Vanessa) » Painted Lady - Hodges#4435 (Vanessa cardui)
Photo#1436724
Caterpillar in Web on Tall Thistle - Vanessa cardui
Copyright © 2017 Margy Stewart

Caterpillar in Web on Tall Thistle - Vanessa cardui
Junction City, 15 mi. SE, Tall Grass Prairie/Flint Hills/Geary County, Kansas, USA
September 4, 2017
Size: 3/4"
There were several of these caterpillars munching on Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum) in bottomground prairie restoration. They had made a loose web for themselves and seemed to eat (and eliminate) inside it.

Images of this individual: tag all
Caterpillar in Web on Tall Thistle - Vanessa cardui Caterpillar in Web on Tall Thistle - Vanessa cardui
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Contributed by Margy Stewart on 6 September, 2017 - 9:00pm
Last updated 7 September, 2017 - 6:54pm

Painted Lady
Closely related to Red Admirals. Note the numerous white "hairs" on the face. This is typical of a Painted Lady, not so well devoped on Red Admiral caterpillars. Thistle are the most common host plant for Painted Lady caterpillars, though they occasionally eat may other plants. I have never been able to verify that Red Admirals will use Thistle.
Moved from ID Request.
… David J. Ferguson, 7 September, 2017 - 6:54pm login or register to post comments

Red Admiral cats…
Read more about how these young larvae create these shelters here.

See reference here.
… Ross Hill, 6 September, 2017 - 9:11pm login or register to post comments

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