More New Caterpillars and Stuff

A short walk around some small oak trees a mile down the road resulted in a few more caterpillars and 'stuff'.

Nason's Slug - Natada nasoni

I need more hours in my day so I can look these new guys up to identify them.  I'm still thinking that it will be a good winter job.

Angulose Prominent - Peridea angulosa
Identified by Shaina

All of these today were from oak trees.  I didn't take long wandering. Grandsons were waiting at the house to pay a game with me.  Jonathan won.

Oblique Heterocampa - Heterocampa obliqua
Identified by Shana

This one had sewed several leaves together and was hiding in its little nest. 

As usual, I was touching gently and carefully, watching for flannel moth stinging caterpillars. They're all over the place and love oaks and, around my legs, blackberry plants.  One day I will get zapped by one.  Charlotte did the other day when she was moving some hackberry branches she had trimmed from around her back door. 

Then I saw a wheel bug eating a flannel moth caterpillar.  So who to boo?  The wheel bug killing a caterpillar or the caterpillar for being a stinging caterpillar?  The white fuzzy thing is the caterpillar.

And eggs of about five species of moths and other critters.  I don't know the identity of most of them. This egg batch covered several leaves, hundreds of eggs.  Now to wait and find out what they are.

A good end to another day except for the part of not winning the game!  Of course, a grandson winning is a good thing too.

If you know the identification of any of these critters, please email me at edith@buyabutterfly.com.

Cornucopia of Caterpillars

First critters on today's walk were turkeys, not happy with me coming too close to them.

Moving on ... I watched two duskywing butterflies laying eggs.  One on oak and the other on a vine in the pea family.

Duskywing Butterfly Egg on Oak Tree

There were eggs of butterflies, moths, and other critters on and under leaves.  This one egg was designated as food by these three ants.  They were working hard to break the egg loose and carry it off.

Ants Removing Moth Egg

An assortment of butterflies but not a large assortment were drinking nectar from goldenrod and other flowering plants.

Next, a cornucopia of caterpillars and eggs!

A look at the front of this caterpillar makes you wonder quite what it is!  Of course, the entire caterpillar looks quite different. This caterpillar will sting.

Spiny Oak Slug Moth Euclea delphinii Caterpillar

Spiny Oak Slug Moth Euclea delphinii Caterpillar

Spiny Oak Slug Moth Euclea delphinii Caterpillar

The prolegs (last few sets of legs) of the one below were comical.  All the caterpillars were on oak except for this one, on sweet gum leaves.  I believe it is Large Paectes - Paectes abrostoloides.

Large Paectes - Paectes abrostoloides

Large Paectes - Paectes abrostoloides

I'll be researching and identifying these caterpillars as I have time.  They were all found on oak.  I do know a couple of them and will add identification tomorrow. If you know the identity of any of these, please email me at edith@buyabutterfly.com. Thank you!

Yellow Shouldered Slug Moth - Lithacodes fasciola