We continue to search for a suitable host plant for our Eri caterpillars (Samia ricini). Due to a large hatching today, we should be able to get a more accurate idea of their preferences using a larger sample since. Yesterday a few of our Eri caterpillars hatched and we offered a choice of five host plants in a petri dish: ornamental rose (Rosa), citrus (Citrus), ceanothus (Ceanothus), elderberry (Sambucus), and an unidentified tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). When we checked on the larvae this afternoon, we were quite disappointed (and worried) to find that there was virtually no feeding on any of the host leaves, nor was there any frass. There were maybe a few minute sized holes on the citrus leaf and a hole on the rose and unidentified Lauraceae. Ceanothus and elderberry were completely untouched. However, the caterpillars were not wandering aimlessly around the dish as they would had if it were empty, but instead were all settled down on one of the host leaves. Several were on the citrus, and a few were on rose and the Lauraceae. This affinity towards the leaves is a hopeful sign that perhaps they may still be utilizable. So, since only the citrus, rose, and Lauraceae had caterpillars on them, we tossed out the ceanothus and elderberry and got some fresh leaves of the former three hosts. As expected, there was a much larger hatching today (60+) of the unsterilized second eclosed female's eggs, so we merged these with the ones that hatched yesterday and divided them up onto the three hosts. This larger sample size should give us a more accurate idea of their preferences. We put 30 on the citrus since it seemed to be the most popular based on yesterday's hatchling's behavior (most holes and caterpillars on it), 25 on rose and 18 on the Lauraceae. Just like yesterday, immediately after placing the caterpillars on the hosts, several began nibbling at the edges but it was nothing extremely significant. We would need to wait until tomroow to see if they actually eat a decent portion of the leaf and leave frass. For now, the caterpillars seem quite content on the different hosts, especially the citrus, followed by the Lauraceae and the rose. Due to the larger numbers today, they have aggregated into large, tight groups on the underside of the leaves. Hopefully, by tomorrow at least one of the hosts will be eaten. - 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 |