OMG this is beautiful. I have never seen such a caterpillar. Actually I haven't seen many at all. This is a gorgeous specimen. I read through all my literature but haven't found anything about whether it overwinters. How exciting to find it in your garden. I have only had a Giant Swallowtail in my garden one time. I would faint if I found the caterpillar on my rue. I will have to look tomorrow you know. :)
don't worry, caterpillars are in this (larva) stage for so little time. They will form a chrysalis quickly and in this stage they CAN overwinter. The pupa (chrysalis) phase is the easiest one to winter in. Sorry for all the extra info... I DO work with butterflies all day!
Dear Lisa, Thank you. I am all a twitter over caterpillars...I am smitten. I was surprised to see the Orange Dogs on the rue. I thought they only would host on Prickly Ash. Very exciting! Hope you find some Orange Dogs on your Rue too. Sherry
Dear Mimi, Thank you! I do trust you, science lady and butterfly friend... I love all information about caterpillars and chrysalises. I hope these three Orange Dogs make it to next spring. I will keep an eye for when they make their cocoons. I also will plan on some good spring necter plants so they have a nice meal when they emerge. Sherry
Dear Lynne, I am very pleased to have three in the herb garden. Three! It is cold and rainy today so I did not go caterpillar hunting. Tomorrow it is to be sunny and warm. I plan on getting the macro lens out. Oh Lynne, it is fun to hunt for bugs... Sherry
Dear Wendy, When I first saw them I was so excited. I saw them Sunday evening and it was getting to be too dark for pictures. I was pleased they were still feeding in the morning. I had looked them up in my caterpillar book so I was aware they were Giant Swallowtail cats... I bet I have lots of Monarch cats because I have lots of milkweed... I am very excited...caterpillars are darling. Ahhh... Sherry
Dear Mary, As you can just imagine I am so very smitten. I look at the pictures of the caterpillars in my caterpillar field guide and I want to see them all. Some have such cool personalities...The Spicebush cat is amazing. Okay...I am on the hunt. Will report in later. Sherry
Dear Cheryl, I am wild for the caterpillars..just wild about them. I have been chatting at supper to my husband all about the different cats..he gets tickled when I am so enthusiastic. Also he knows once I fall in love I am always in love... I love caterpillars... Sherry
Dear Grammy, I had never seen them before either...now that I have the macro lens I can take pictures of them. This helps me identify the cats. I Ahh...life in the garden is good. Sherry
Dear Shelia, The macro lens helps to be able to take the pictures. The one I bought has a nice depth of field. So exciting... Caterpillars mean butterflies next spring, if all goes well. They take the sting out of Winter...I know the bugs are just resting, waiting to emerge. Sherry
Dear Vikki, I think if I just sat in one spot I would see all sorts of cool bugs. I have been watching a BBC program called, "Life in the Undergrowth". It is all about the bugs. I like bugs very much. Glad you do too. Sherry
I have 5 orange dog caterpillars on my lime tree. In 2009 I fed one and it made a cryssalis that took 5 months to turn into the most beautiful giant swallowtail.
21 comments:
OMG this is beautiful. I have never seen such a caterpillar. Actually I haven't seen many at all. This is a gorgeous specimen. I read through all my literature but haven't found anything about whether it overwinters. How exciting to find it in your garden. I have only had a Giant Swallowtail in my garden one time. I would faint if I found the caterpillar on my rue. I will have to look tomorrow you know. :)
don't worry, caterpillars are in this (larva) stage for so little time. They will form a chrysalis quickly and in this stage they CAN overwinter. The pupa (chrysalis) phase is the easiest one to winter in. Sorry for all the extra info... I DO work with butterflies all day!
I don't think I've ever seen such a beutiful caterpillar.
My goodness he's strange looking. Very clear pic.
You find the most unusual, beautiful life in your city yard. Amazing.
Hugs,
Mary
this is incredible looking! it really does have a dog face. great photo.
Well Sherry I have to say I think that is the most beautiful caterpillar I have ever seen......what a joy to share.....
How wonderful I have never seen Orange Dogs before. Great picture. Have a wonderful day.
Wow, what a fantastic little creature. You photography is great, I am envious..lol
His colours are wonderful.
Dear Lisa,
Thank you. I am all a twitter over caterpillars...I am smitten.
I was surprised to see the Orange Dogs on the rue. I thought they only would host on Prickly Ash.
Very exciting! Hope you find some Orange Dogs on your Rue too.
Sherry
Dear Mimi,
Thank you! I do trust you, science lady and butterfly friend...
I love all information about caterpillars and chrysalises. I hope these three Orange Dogs make it to next spring. I will keep an eye for when they make their cocoons.
I also will plan on some good spring necter plants so they have a nice meal when they emerge.
Sherry
Dear Lynne,
I am very pleased to have three in the herb garden. Three!
It is cold and rainy today so I did not go caterpillar hunting. Tomorrow it is to be sunny and warm. I plan on getting the macro lens out.
Oh Lynne, it is fun to hunt for bugs...
Sherry
Dear Wendy,
When I first saw them I was so excited. I saw them Sunday evening and it was getting to be too dark for pictures. I was pleased they were still feeding in the morning.
I had looked them up in my caterpillar book so I was aware they were Giant Swallowtail cats...
I bet I have lots of Monarch cats because I have lots of milkweed...
I am very excited...caterpillars are darling. Ahhh...
Sherry
Dear Mary,
As you can just imagine I am so very smitten. I look at the pictures of the caterpillars in my caterpillar field guide and I want to see them all. Some have such cool personalities...The Spicebush cat is amazing.
Okay...I am on the hunt.
Will report in later.
Sherry
Dear Marmee,
My book says from the top this cat looks like a snake to birds..
I guess so.
I think they are cool.
Sherry
Dear Cheryl,
I am wild for the caterpillars..just wild about them. I have been chatting at supper to my husband all about the different cats..he gets tickled when I am so enthusiastic. Also he knows once I fall in love I am always in love...
I love caterpillars...
Sherry
Dear Grammy,
I had never seen them before either...now that I have the macro lens I can take pictures of them. This helps me identify the cats. I
Ahh...life in the garden is good.
Sherry
Dear Shelia,
The macro lens helps to be able to take the pictures. The one I bought has a nice depth of field.
So exciting...
Caterpillars mean butterflies next spring, if all goes well. They take the sting out of Winter...I know the bugs are just resting, waiting to emerge.
Sherry
Wow! This a most interesting liitle being. I can't beleive how gorgeous he/she is.
As always; thank you for sharing your lovely world with all of us. :)
Love, Vikki.
Dear Vikki,
I think if I just sat in one spot I would see all sorts of cool bugs.
I have been watching a BBC program called, "Life in the Undergrowth". It is all about the bugs.
I like bugs very much. Glad you do too.
Sherry
I have 5 orange dog caterpillars on my lime tree. In 2009 I fed one and it made a cryssalis that took 5 months to turn into the most beautiful giant swallowtail.
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