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Photo#298800
Painted Lady caterpillar - Vanessa cardui
Copyright © 2009 John Pearson

Painted Lady caterpillar - Vanessa cardui
Ackworth, Warren County, Iowa, USA
July 4, 2009
Size: ~35 mm
Lone caterpillar on leaf of musk thistle (Carduus nutans) in disturbed area within grassy old field. Associated with sparse webbing and frass, which were both abundant on a slightly different part of the same plant (see third photo).

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Painted Lady caterpillar - Vanessa cardui Painted Lady caterpillar - Vanessa cardui
Contributed by John Pearson on 4 July, 2009 - 1:31pm
Last updated 5 July, 2009 - 8:31am

A Nymphalid on a thistle
sounds like Vanessa cardui to us, see here
… john and jane balaban, 4 July, 2009 - 3:59pm

 
Yes
Yes, in fact I submitted a photo of the Painted Lady caterpillar last month from another part of the state, but didn't recognize it. This one was bigger, more colorful, and on thistle. Thanks!
… John Pearson, 5 July, 2009 - 8:35am

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