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Photo#59576
Help I.D. Caterpillar - Arge coccinea

Help I.D. Caterpillar - Arge coccinea
Pennsylvania, USA
August 24, 2005
Need help with this one. Found him late last summer on Sumac with about 100 of his siblings.

Images of this individual: tag all
Help I.D. Caterpillar - Arge coccinea Help I.D. Caterpillar - Arge coccinea

Sawfly larva
is what they remind me of, especially with that curled tail end. Compare. The host plant should help someone ID this, although better lighting would also help.

 
I don't know...
This is a real tricky one- there are bumps all over it of the same size and coloration as the ones that might be prolegs. If those aren't prolegs, I don't know how it could be a sawfly- but then I don't know that much about sawflies.

 
Did you see this link?
It's a photo of Arge coccinea feeding on sumac. I think we've got a winner :-)

Interestingly, the adult sawfly retains the same colors.

 
Nice work
Thanks for the link. I would say its a winner.
Dan

 
Moved
I am playing it safe and moving it to family level, unless somebody is confident of species ID and moves it there.

 
It would be nice to have the blessing of an expert,
but the general appearance and the host plant agree, so I'm at least 80% convinced. Moving to Arge coccinea species page.

Grub, not caterpillar
It may be just the viewing angle, but I only see the six true legs. A caterpillar would have leg-like appendages called prolegs on the rear segments. I'm no expert, but it looks to me like the larva of some kind of beetle.

 
thanks
Pictures aren't the greatest, but I can only make out 3 pairs of legs now that you mention it. Any ideas on type of beetle?
thanks
dan

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