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Photo#706045

Copyright © 2012 Betsy Knaak

Caterpillar on Blue Palo Verde

Borrego Springs, San Diego County, California, USA
September 20, 2012

Betsy Knaak wrote me: " I am trying to identify this caterpillar eating our native blue palo verde
> leaves at our home in Borrego Springs. The caterpillars are covering our Cercidium floridum (Palo Verde). We had two good summer storms in August. I
> don't know if this influx is related, but for all the many years I have lived here, this is an unusual event at this time of year and in this plant.

I checked my Robinson et al, 2002, "Hostplants of Moth and Butterfly Caterpillars of America north of Mexico." Only one moth species is listed on Cercidium floridum, Sphingicampa (previously Syssphinx)heiligbrodti (Saturnidae). Powell and Opler have a photo of the caterpillar of a closely related species (perhaps a synonym), Plate 63-1, which does not seem similar. Any help will be much appreciated.

Images of this individual: tag all

Caterpillar on Blue Palo Verde

Caterpillar on Blue Palo Verde

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Contributed by Lynn Monroe on 20 September, 2012 - 2:15pm
Last updated 31 October, 2018 - 3:41pm

Frassed

Likley a Zale, but without a full body image with more pixels we can't say with certainty, sorry

… john and jane balaban, 31 October, 2018 - 3:41pm

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Moved

Moved from Butterflies and Moths.

… john and jane balaban, 21 November, 2013 - 8:21pm

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Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 18 October, 2012 - 3:40pm

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i agree with jane

and john..but i would venture zale..they are easy to rear.

… Edna Woodward, 20 September, 2012 - 5:32pm

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It's tough looking at only the middle of the caterpillar

but we would say you would find this in Zale or Catocala or one of their cousins.

… john and jane balaban, 20 September, 2012 - 2:25pm

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caterpillars on Blue Palo Verde

Thanks, John and Jane and Eddie for your identifications. I thought underwing when I first saw this cat, but I'm not familiar with the Zale genus. Are any in these groups colonial?

… Lynn Monroe, 20 September, 2012 - 10:05pm

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