25 July 2012

25 July 2012 – Caterpillar News

Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis)

Yellow-tail from below

Today the Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) arrived for the first time all year. It is not new to the Hall but I’ve never seen it before. It is white and fuzzy, much like yesterday’s White Satin Moth but with one main distinction. If it is disturbed, it sticks out its yellowish-orange abdomen from between its wings almost as an automatic reaction. Eu means ‘good’ and proktosmeans ‘anus’ or ‘backside’ because of its the protruding yellow tail.  Similismeans ‘similar’ because of its resemblance to the Brown-tail species.

New eggs beside a Muslin Footman

There has also been another cluster of eggs found in the trap. We suspect that the nearby Muslin Footman is the mother, but we are not sure. We will be caring for them just as we did the group of eggs from earlier in the season.

This brings me to updates on the larvae. The caterpillars have been eating their clover, growing stronger and greener with each passing day. Take a look at the photograph, being sure to notice the eaten leaves, the frass, and the caterpillars themselves.

Larvae eating clover

-Post by Helen Levins