Our oldest two fourth instar Cecropia caterpillars (Hyalophora cecropia) have ecdysed into fifth instar. This morning when we checked on our Cecropia caterpillars, the fourth instar that entered apolysis on 7/6 had finally ecdysed into fifth instar after nearly four days, shown in the left and middle photos. We are not sure when it did it exactly, but based on the fact that the cuticle was mostly tanned and it has already eaten a portion of its old exocuticle, it had probably done it several hours ago during the night or early morning. When we checked on the caterpillars again in the afternoon (5-ish?), the plum eater that entered apolysis on 7/7 had just ecdysed as well, with its new cuticle still moist (right photo). Seems they were still very close in age after all since both ecdysed on the same day despite entering apolysis on different days, but the apple eater is still several hours ahead. There are many differences between the newly molted fifth instar caterpillar and the fourth instar caterpillars. First, the cuticle is much smoother and has a deeper turquoise green coloration than before, probably because the powdery white coating was shed off with the old cuticle, but will accumulate again in a few days. The head capsule, true legs and prolegs, spiracles, and tubercles are now huge in comparison to the body because it will grow an incredible amount during this final instar. The tubercles have changed quite a bit in size, shape, and color as well. They are at least twice the size as before, and they are much more elongated in shape, especially the abdominal ones. Many of the black spikes on the tips have been reduced into black spots, such as on the six large ones on T2, T3, and A1, or completely disappeared as seen on most of the other tubercles which only have one or two central spikes now instead of a ring of five. The tubercles colors have changes as well, with the four red ones now more of an orange red and the two large yellow ones on A1 now a yellow-orange. The blue lateral tubercles seem lighter in color now as well. With two fifth instar caterpillars now with many fourths in apolysis, our Cecropia caterpillar journey is coming near to an end, and we hope most will survive to cocoon. This final instar should take a good two weeks and we hope we will have great fun with them in this coming time. Anyway, here are the numbers for today: L5: 2; L4+: 9; L4: 12; L3: 1; dead: 12 (2 drowned, 10 disease) Finally, for the record, today is the 34th day since the first caterpillars hatched, and marks the end of fourth instar for the oldest individual, which lasted approximately 12 days and 11-21 hours from 6/27-7/10. Third instar lasted roughly 6 days and 17 hours from 6/20-6/27, second instar lasted for roughly 6 days and 1-2 hours from 6/14-6/20, and first instar lasted for roughly seven days and 6 hours from 6/7-6/14. - Alan
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Timeline 2012–2017
Albany, California This timeline is a series of daily posts recording our observations on and experiences with various insects in Albany California and surrounding areas, from 2012-2017. Since we did not publish this site until 2016, posts before that were constructed retroactively. Starting in August 2017, we moved to Ithaca, New York; posts from there on can be viewed at Timeline 2017-present: Ithaca, New York. Archives (1,011)
August 2017 (49) July 2017 (121) June 2017 (79) May 2017 (77) April 2017 (91) March 2017 (35) February 2017 (12) January 2017 (10) December 2016 (12) November 2016 (26) October 2016 (49) September 2016 (84) August 2016 (94) July 2016 (99) June 2016 (53) May 2016 (21) April 2016 (4) January 2016 (1) August 2015 (3) July 2015 (3) June 2015 (2) June 2014 (3) May 2014 (1) April 2014 (3) March 2014 (3) December 2013 (2) November 2013 (2) October 2013 (5) September 2013 (11) August 2013 (15) July 2013 (9) June 2013 (5) May 2013 (4) April 2013 (3) March 2013 (2) February 2013 (3) January 2013 (2) December 2012 (2) November 2012 (1) October 2012 (2) September 2012 (2) August 2012 (5) July 2012 (1) June 2012 (1) Authors
![]() ![]() Full Species List (Alphabetical by scientific name) Note: - Not every species we encounter is necessarily presented on this site, rather a selection of those that were of particular interest to us and that we felt were worth documenting. - We can't guarantee that all species have been identified accurately, particularly taxa we are not as familiar with. Lepidoptera Actias luna Adelpha californica Agraulis vanillae Allancastria cerisyi Antheraea mylitta Antheraea polyphemus Anthocharis sara Argema mimosae Attacus atlas Battus philenor hirsuta Bombyx mori Caligo atreus Callosamia promethea Coenonympha tullia california Citheronia regalis Cricula trifenestrata Danaus plexippus Eacles imperialis Erynnis tristis Estigmene acrea Eumorpha achemon Eupackardia calleta Furcula cinereoides Heliconius erato Heliconius hecale Heliconius sapho Heliconius sara Hyalophora cecropia Hyalophora columbia Hyalophora euryalus Hylephila phyleus Hyles lineata Junonia coenia Langia zenzeroides formosana Lophocampa maculata Manduca sexta Morpho peleides Nymphalis antiopa Orgyia vetusta Orthosia hibisci quenquefasciata Pachysphinx modesta Papilio cresphontes Papilio eurymedon Papilio glaucus Papilio machaon oregonius Papilio multicaudata Papilio polyxenes asterius Papilio rumiko Papilio rutulus Papilio zelicaon Phyciodes mylitta Phyciodes pulchella Pieris rapae Plejebus acmon Poanes melane Polites sabuleti Polygonia satyrus Pyrgus communis Rothschildia jacobaeae Samia cynthia advena Samia ricini Smerinthus cerisyi Smerinthus ophthalmica Strymon melinus Trichoplusia ni Uresephita reversalis Vanessa annabella Vanessa atalanta Vanessa cardui Unidentified Lepidoptera Hybrids Papilio glaucus × Papilio rutulus Papilio polyxenes asterius × Papilio zelicaon Orthoptera Melanoplus devastator Phaneroptera nana Pristoceuthophilus pacificus Scudderia mexicana Trimerotropis pallidipennis Phasmatodea Carausius morosus Phyllium giganteum Mantodea Mantis religiosa Phyllocrania paradoxa Hymenoptera Apis mellifera Bombus vosnesenskii Brachymeria ovata Linepithema humile Pediobius sp. Polistes dominula Xylocopa varipuncta Unidentified Diptera Lucilia sericata Unidentified Hemiptera Brochymena sp. Leptoglossus sp. Nezara viridula Odonata Argia vivida Libellula croceipennis Coleoptera Coccinella septempunctata Cycloneda polita Diabrotica undecimpunctata Hippodamia convergens Araneae (Class: Arachnida) Araneus diadematus Phidippus johnsoni |