 We have been finding what appear to be two kinds of eggs on wild mallow (Malva). At least one species involved is the Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus); the other species could be the Common Checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis). On 9/8, we found a fourth instar (mature) Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) caterpillar on wild mallow (Malva) in El Cerrito, CA. When we examined the particular plant more closely, we quickly realized that there were a series of eggs laid among it just by a glance. Most of them were already hatched with an obvious hole in the top where the caterpillar had exited, but we still managed to collect three fresh ones. We have found plenty of West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) caterpillars and eggs on mallow, their most preferred host plant in our region, which are easily recognizable, green, typical true nymphalid (Nymphalinae) shaped eggs and these were clearly not that. What we initially assumed was that all of these new eggs were those of the Gray hairstreak since we had found the caterpillar. Gray hairstreaks are extremely common in our area (as well as elsewhere!) and we often see them around so it wasn't a big surprise that they are breeding here. However, upon taking a few photos of the eggs (yes, the quality of the photos isn't too great because our cheap camera has its limitations) two of the three (mystery egg 2) did not appear to resemble hairstreak (lycaenid) eggs exactly though they looked extremely similar. After quite a long time of investigating, we came to the conclusion that there were actually two different kinds of eggs. On 9/9, we collected three more fresh eggs, laid at a different location in Berkeley, CA, over a mile away from the ones that we found on 9/8. We have never monitored this site for butterflies. After taking a picture of these eggs, we again concluded that there were two different kinds of eggs (probably that same as the two kinds we found before, respectively). Unfortunately, we lost one of the eggs we found on 9/8 so we were down five eggs. Mystery egg 1 is relatively flat, with a small greenish indent in the center; in our opinion, it looks like a fairly typical hairstreak (lycaenid) egg. They do not seem to be very firmly attached to the substrate. Mystery egg 2 is more spherical and has very obvious ridges, evident even in our poorly taken photos. They are more whitish or yellow in color. The eggs are about the same size as far as we can tell. Today (9/10), one of the eggs that we found had hatched into what appears to be a Gray hairstreak. It is difficult to say for certain what kind of egg it came out of because there is a hole in it now and the details are vague but we think it was probably mystery egg 1, especially since mystery egg 1 looked more like a hairstreak egg. Coincidentally, while picking mallow leaves, we found another newborn Gray hairstreak without even knowing. We could not locate the hatched egg shell that this one came from. We also found five more eggs. Because one of the two kinds of eggs has been confirmed to be that of the Gray hairstreak, the trouble now is figuring out the what else we have. Assuming that the newborn hatched out of mystery egg 1, our best guess for mystery egg 2 would be that of a skipper (Hesperiidae). Skipper eggs are typically spherical with the vertical ridges. What really increased our suspicions today was that while we were looking for the eggs, we discovered Common Checkered skippers (Pyrgus communis) around the mallow. In fact, we even had the opportunity to catch one and it turned out to be a female. Of all the skippers commonly found in our region, Common Checkered skippers are the only one that we know of that feed on mallows as larvae. We shall see for sure once they hatch. - Brian
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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 |
