BottleCat 2021-07
The eggs were laid on Citrus. There were at least 5 batches of eggs found throughout the month. Somehow I never saw the caterpillars eat anything, but two of them managed to grow considerably, though only one survived in the end.
The last caterpillar has been seen nesting around decaying leaves, the corner of the container, and in the last few days, between two leaves. It mysteriously disappeared before the morning of the 20th day.
Egg: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68099991
Caterpillar: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69400222
Observation set: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:Similar%20observation%20set=68099991
Info: BottleCats is the tag I use to track the ontogeny of lepidopterans in my backyard. Though bottled, I consider wild-caught caterpillars that naturally live and breed within our garden walls to be "wild," in terms of iNat labelling.
Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AQUtjdS8-zRBCuTwiImymzYRcZrxHQXP-O51H9zl3PA/edit#gid=1116492635
See the images I took daily of this batch:
http://bottlecats.tumblr.com/tagged/202107
I think young sphingids
Dead caterpillar with fungus/mold growing on it.
Very windy day, but I could tell something interesting was going on with these hoverflies so I kept trying for a decent photo.. Very interesting appendage
The second photo shows a ovipositor that extended out when I got closer. Unsure why this female doesn't have her wings though.
Found while collecting benthic macroinvertebrates in Great Seneca
They really do say PEE-WEE, just like in the bird book! ;-)
I've never seen one of these in person before!
Final photo is male coming in for a landing, so you can see the tail feathers better
I went out for my usual lunch time hike today in search of interesting organisms to photograph and identify, and came across all these usual specimens. They seem related to a range of usually microscopic species, but seem instead to be giant today. 😄
Preserved
Specimen LEP 0005 (Cocoon, failed to emerge)
Edit: A parasitoid fly emerged several months later in the container, found already dead in January 2022.
Specimen spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AQUtjdS8-zRBCuTwiImymzYRcZrxHQXP-O51H9zl3PA/edit?usp=sharing
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BottleCat 2020-21
Found on Nephelium
Caterpillar: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40355124
Cocoon: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40808235
Parasitoid: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105082130/
Observation set: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:Similar%20observation%20set=40355124
Info: BottleCats is the tag I use to track the ontogeny of lepidopterans in my backyard. Though bottled, they're wild caught caterpillars that naturally live and breed within our garden walls, so I consider them to be "wild," in terms of iNat labelling.
Short pink tail, light gray color, pink paws and nose.
Specimen 2020-12
Egg: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/38874734
Hatchling: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39133168
Caterpillar (1): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39463060
Caterpillar (2): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40021398
Caterpillar (death): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40282812
Observation set: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:Similar%20observation%20set=38874734
Info: BottleCats is the tag I use to track the ontogeny of lepidopterans in my backyard. Though bottled, they're wild caught caterpillars that naturally live and breed within our garden walls, so I consider them to be "wild," in terms of iNat labelling.