Pipevine cat - last instar? (photo)

10 years ago

Between the Aristolochia serpentaria (aka Virginia Snakeroot) and the Aristolochia fimbriata (aka white veined dutchman's pipevine), this little guy is fat, sassy and looks about ready to pupate.

I have brought in two clutches of new pipevine butterfly eggs to raise. I only had three healthy cats make it to the pupation stage from the earlier pipevine cats I brought in. Apparently they were attacked at a very young stage of development. I've decided to bring in the eggs as soon as I see them in order to give the little cats half a chance to make it to a butterfly. There is plenty of food available so it's just a matter of taking care of them.

These little guys have been outside since they hatched. I didn't discover them until they were about 3rd instars and don't know if they are healthy but they have only been on ground plants, not the high vines. Maybe some will make it.

Mary

Pipevine cat - late Instar - finishing off a Aristolochia fimbriata leaf

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Comments (4)

Leafhead
10 years ago
Sure looks ready to pupate soon...
My Polydamas were in the 5th instar for about 5 days and ate like crazy before finally purging and pupating. They averaged 1-2 days in the earlier instars.
Best of luck c your beautiful Pipevine cats.
MissSherry
10 years ago
Pipevine swallowtail cats look the same throughout their entire larval life, so it's hard to tell just by looking at the picture what instar it's in. Well, earliest instars are more red than black, but that's about the only difference, other than size. Your cat looks fat, so it's probably about to pupate.

Congrats, congrats!

Sherry
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Hi Elizabeth, The little pipevine cats are piggies, for certain! Yes, this is the same little wild A variegata plant I found on that construction acreage while searching for milkweed to feed my first ever Monarch cats. I was so new to butterfly gardening, I didn't even know what I'd come across, wasn't absolutely certain it was even milkweed. It was you guys, here on the butterfly forum, who ID'ed the little plant and told me how special the plant was to the community; that I should attempt to save it before the construction equipment killed it. Still waiting on a seed pod but always have the pleasure of enjoying the lovely blooms each spring. I have one Aristolochia macrophylla vine and it is finally beginning to climb. For me, it's been a really slow grower but it might be the planting site. I have it near a large Oak. I've seen photos of it growing in what looks like at least half day sun. Maybe the dappled light it gets here isn't enough. Mary
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Thanks for the suggestions and hazard warning. Whether nature uses our plants as butterfly hosts or lizard feeders is actually okay with me, too. Though have begun to wonder if our urban setting may be short on lizard predators... the anoles, especially, are showing up everywhere and there seems to be more of them with every insect attracting plant we add. There are a bunch of stub-tails this year, so guess something has been after them. Our neighbor's huge oak grew into the canopy space of the fruitless mulberry we removed much quicker than expected; so, the pipevine ended up in full-day heavy shade by the end of its first growing season. Took it 3 or so years just to reach the top of the 6 ft fence and another 2 or 3 to really begin growing onto the sunny (east) side. I didn't water it after the first year, never fed it, and left it in darkness.... so take no credit for it's survival. Did think we had lost it a couple different times during the first three years.
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linda_tx8
10 years ago
I've got 2 PVST cats that are 5th instar...they look similar to yours, although I can't say for sure. Hoping these are ready to pupate soon. I also have 14 1st instar cats and a few unhatched eggs that I brought in. Two of the second group were on A. fimbriata and the rest were on A. serpentaria.
Mary Leek
Original Author
10 years ago
So far, some of the little Pipevine swallowtail cats that have spent their life outside on low plants are holding their own. Mama Pipevine Swallowtails continue to visit the vines and leave eggs.

Mary

mature Pipevine Swallowtail cat looking for that special place to pupate - form his chrysalis

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this little guy has already found his perfect spot!

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Pipevine cat - last instar? (photo)

Comments (4)

Leafhead

MissSherry

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Pipevine cat - last instar? (photo)

Comments (4)

Leafhead

MissSherry

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linda_tx8

Mary LeekOriginal Author

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Mary Leek
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