Ova - photo by Todd Stout
# 1 - First Instar
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Details - All photos ©Nicky Davis Todd Stout collected this ova on an Aspen leaf 17.5 miles S.E. of Alpine, Lincoln County, Wyoming - July 8, 2006. Ova July 09, 2006 Larva Larva #1 1. July 14, 2006 Newly eclosed larva just after being placed on aspen 2. July 15, 2006 It looks as if this larva is on a twig but in reality it is a twig look-alike constructed entirely by the larva in just one day. This little guy is amazing. After each meal he goes to the edge of the leaf and works on constructing this string bridge, twig look-alike object. He adds a length to the string after each meal. Then he sleeps on the string. It's really weird because the string is so strong it sets out from the leaf horizontally with no support at the end of the string. I think he has "guy wires" going from furthur out on the leaf to hold it in that position. He must have been an engineer in his previous life. Maybe our ancient engineers learned their trade from watching these caterpillars. 3.Discarded head case after molt from first to second instar, July 17, 2006 4. July 17, 2006 - Second instar has created a perch by chewing away the leaf and extending the leaf's vein with dung pellets. 5. 3rd instar - Morning of July 24, 2006 6. Evening of July 24th - This larva constructed a hibernacula today by attaching silk to each side of an aspen leaf. It will over-winter as the third instar larva. ________________________________________________ Dale Nielson provided larva #2 Pre-Pupa-Larva #2 1., 2. Photos show larva in the classic "J" position, set to form pupa Larva Fifth Instar- Larva #2 1. head 2. lateral Fourth Instar No photo available Host Plant This ova was on Aspen which was also used as host plant for the larva. For available photos of host plants click on your choice of Aspen Chokecherry Willows Cottonwood Serviceberry Oceanspray, not yet photographed, is also a host plant for the Weidemeyer's Admiral. Back to Top |