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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Erebidae » Tiger and Lichen Moths (Arctiinae) » Tiger Moths (Arctiini) » Spilosomina » Spilosoma » Virginian Tiger Moth - Hodges#8137 (Spilosoma virginica)
Photo#542074
pupa - July 6 - Spilosoma virginica
Copyright © 2011 Ilona L.

pupa - July 6 - Spilosoma virginica
Cross Plains, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
July 6, 2012
Before pupating, this caterpillar had a voracious appetite, consuming quite a bit of each Burdock leaf I supplied. Curious as to what all the liquid is from. Is this a result of the removal of all the hairs to make the covering of the pupa?

Images of this individual: tag all
caterpillar - June 25 - Spilosoma virginica caterpillar - June 29 - Spilosoma virginica caterpillar - June 30 - Spilosoma virginica pupa - July 6 - Spilosoma virginica Virginia Tiger Moth - July 21 - Spilosoma virginica
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Contributed by Ilona L. on 8 July, 2011 - 11:21am
Last updated 21 September, 2012 - 12:26pm

what i have heard
and seen is they shed extra moisture sweat it before they pupate. when i reared that huge pack of eurys thecoccons were all damp, and it smelled musty in that room.
… Edna Woodward, 8 July, 2011 - 12:45pm login or register to post comments

 
pupa
Thanks for the info. I did a short search and came up with this statement from Wikipedia regarding a Luna Moth caterpillar. "Shortly before pupation, the final, fifth instar caterpillar will engage in a "gut dump" where any excess water, food, feces, and fluids are expelled." Maybe this is also true of other caterpillars such as this one.
… Ilona L., 8 July, 2011 - 3:11pm login or register to post comments

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