Small Wood-Nymph
Cercyonis oetus charon
Immatures

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ADULT      EMERGENCE  

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Ova
eggs



Larva Development

Lateral view of First Instar  on September 11, 2007
Just after bringing out of the refrigerator
where it was in diapause for three weeks.

September 11, 2007


Dorsal view of First Instar on September 11, 2007.
Just after bringing out of the refrigerator
where it was in diapause for three weeks.

September 11, 2007

Dorsal view of First Instar on September 13, 2007,
when it began to feed on grass  and turn green.

September 13, 2007 - Dorsal

First Instar
Lateral view of larva on September 13, 2007,  when it began to feed on grass -  
Notice the unusual feeding pattern and it's color changing to green.
September 13, 2007 - lateral


Second Instar
Dorsal view of larva #1 on September 21, 2007.
This larva molted to second instar on September 19, 2007

2nd instar



Second Instar
Lateral view of larva #1 on September 21, 2007.
 This larva molted to second instar on September 19, 2007

2nd instar

Third Instar
Dorsal view of larva #1 on September 26, 2007
. This larva molted to third instar on September 24, 2007

dorsal view of 3rd instar on 09-26-07



Third Instar
Lateral view of larva #1 on September 26, 2007.
This larva molted to third instar on September 24, 2007

3rd instar on 09-26-07


Fourth Instar - Dorsal View
4th instar dorsal view

Fourth instar - Lateral View
lateral view of 4th instar


Fifth Instar - #1 molted to 5th instar October 4, 2007

Photo on October 5th
#1 larva molted to 5th on Oct. 4th - Photo on Oct. 5th.


#1 - Fifth Instar - Photos taken on October 10th 2007
5th instar on Oct. 10th


#1 - Fifth Instar - Photos taken on October 10th 2007
#1 larva on Oct. 10th


PUPAE

Pupa #1 formed October 13th
photo on October 15th

#1 on October 15th
Pupa #1 formed October 13th
photo on October 15th

October 15th

Pupa #1 - photo on October 25th
45 minutes before adult eclosed

on October 25th

Pupa #1 - photo on October 25th
45 minutes before adult eclosed

October 25th

Pupa #2 formed  October 21st
 photo taken the same day

#2 pupa on October 21st

Pupa #2 formed  October 21st
photo taken the same day

Pupa #2 on October 21st

Pupa #2 on November 1st
3 1/4 hours  before the butterfly emerged

November 1st



Pupa #3 formed  October 26th
 photo taken November 5th
#3 on November 5th


Pupa #3 formed  October 26th, photo November 6th - 5hrs. prior to eclosure
5 hours prior to eclosure



Photo Details - ©Nicky Davis

Female collected by Todd Stout - August 1, 2007, 9000 feet, Francis Peak Road, 1 mile South Southeast of Francis Peak, Davis County, Utah. Of 6 eggs, 6 hatched and all of them fed on grasses and matured.

Ova
Ova on August 7, 2007.  Ova hatch in about 17 days.

Larva
After larvae hatched they were placed into the refrigerator for three weeks for diapause then moved to Bluegrass.
These larvae fed for about 35 days.

1. Larva #1 molted to 5th instar on October 04, 2007 - Photo on October 5th
2., 3. Larva #1 on October 10, 2007
4., 5. Larva #1 molted to 4th instar on September 29, 2007.  Photos taken September 30, 2007
6., 7. Larva #1 molted to 3rd instar on September 24, 2007.  Photos taken September 26, 2007. Note how  well the dorsal surface is camouflaged on the grass.
8., 9.  Larva #1 molted to 2nd instar on September 19, 2007. Photos taken September 21, 2007
10.,11.  Larva on September 13, 2007.  This larva began eating on the 13th or three days after being brought out of the refrigerator.  Note the feeding pattern shown in the first photo.
12., 13.  Larva on September 11, 2007 after being in diapause in the refrigerator from  August 18, 2007 until  September 10, 2007,  or about three weeks.

Larvae Characteristics
Green body and head after first instar. Whitish lateral stripe.  Dark dorsal stripe. Two dark subdorsal stripes on each side. Light colored hairs on head and body. Two short reddish/orange rear horns.

Pupa
The pupae took about 12 days to eclose
1., 2., 3., 4.  Pupa #1
5., 6., 7.  Pupa #2
8., 9.  Pupa #3

Host Plant
Grasses

This caterpillar  was started on blades of Bluegrass

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