Image copyright 2002, David L. Green
Hemingway, South Carolina
Early Winter Cress
Barbarea verna: Leptidopteran larval food
Caterpillar No 1 Estigmene acrea Salt Marsh
Moth, Female
Caterpillar No 2
Image copyright 2002, David L. Green
Hemingway, South Carolina
We captured this caterpillar, and fed it a steady diet of Barbarea. It grew and darkened in color.
Image copyright 2002, David L. Green
Hemingway, South Carolina
The same caterpillar on May 12.
A flash photo shows more detail
Image copyright 2002, David L. Green
Hemingway, South Carolina
It's happily munching away until....
Image copyright 2002, David L. Green
Hemingway, South Carolina
...on May 17, it began to spin a cocoon.
Image copyright 2002, David L. Green
Hemingway, South Carolina
For movies of the spinning, click here.
Emergence into the adult stage, click here
Mated pair produce the next generation: click here.