2016 November 23

 

   Ren Ferguson writes from Salt Spring Island:  I was surprised to find a caterpillar on my arm on Monday when doing a lake survey on the Ducks Unlimited property on Salt Spring Island. The caterpillar was almost dead and by the time I photographed it and took it off my arm, it had expired. I have seen this caterpillar species before but my memory fails me.

   I was very interested to see Mike Yip’s photo of the Rock Wren about to enjoy a Noctua pronuba caterpillar. [See November 18 posting.]  I have witnessed both Mountain Bluebirds and American Kestrel eating the same on Mount Tuam in the very early spring. These caterpillars seem to be available at all times of the year. I found many wandering around on the snow one December here on SSI many years ago.

 

  Jeremy Tatum writes:  I’m afraid I don’t know what this caterpillar is.  A wild guess as to its Family would be Erebidae.  It is not full grown, and one can see from the appearance of its head that it is just about to undergo ecdysis (skin change).  This process often gives a caterpillar a moribund look, so it is possible that it is not as ill as it may appear.

 

Unknown caterpillar (Lep.: Erebidae?)   Ren Ferguson