Schizura concinna

Feeding on gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) leaves.

comments (15)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Looks dangerously beautiful :) Posted 5 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  They are both.
  
  "The larval defensive gland of Schizura concinna (J.E. Smith) is situated in the thorax and consists of two sacs joined by an interglandular neck. Its orifice opens into a transverse invagination of the integument at the cervical margin of the prosternite. The major component of the defensive secretion, formic acid, was identified as itsp-bromophenacyl ester. Ancillary components decyl acetate, dodecyl acetate, and 2-tridecanone from the anterior portion of the gland were identified by GLC and GS-MS." https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00988232 Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Wow, that’s not one to mess with! Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      Some can even aim the spray. If that caterpillar is there tomorrow I'm going to see what happens when it is disturbed. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Please do send a keep-alive signal, friend. Posted 5 years ago
      2. Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        Just went out to the dogwood bush and all the caterpilars have left or gone into hiding because it has gotten cold here. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Yet you live. One out of 2 is good for now. Posted 5 years ago
      3. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Ohhh! I'm kind of relieved you didn't find it again. Posted 5 years ago
      4. Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        There's a;ways next year. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Daredevil ;) Posted 5 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        Merely curious. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        I shouldn't tease you too much because I definitely share your curiosity. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        I'll be careful and keep a plastic shield between me and the caterpillar. We're getting colder weather here, frosts 4 nights in a row so the insects are quickly disappearing. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Oh, wow...It's that time of year already. I don't want to believe it. I noticed a decline in insect activity over the past week here as well. We haven't had a frost yet, but probably will within the next couple weeks. Posted 5 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Today's Facebook post:

The red-humped caterpillar (Schizura concinna) is the larva of a moth in the family Notodontidae. It has a large range in North America, spanning from Canada to Florida. It is polyphagous, which means that it eats a wide variety of food. Specifically, it feeds on woody plants; and, if present in large numbers, they can defoliate trees.

One really fascinating thing about red-humped caterpillars is their odor. They stink! Their peculiar smell is described as being a sharp, acidic smell. The reason for their stench is that they have glands that secrete defensive chemicals consisting of formic acid and acetate. If threatened, a caterpillar will empty its gland by spraying droplets of liquid to the extent that they basically appear to explode into a stinky, sticky mess. This nasty display makes them unpalatable to any sensible predator. {Spotted in Minnesota by JungleDragon moderator, Gary B} #JungleDragon #Redhumpedcaterpillar #Schizuraconcinna

Check out Gary’s other photos, which include a wonderful smorgasbord of various flora and fauna: https://www.jungledragon.com/user/3383/popular

https://www.facebook.com/jungledragonwildlife

Posted 5 years ago