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lejun | profile | all galleries >> Butterflies and Moths >> Magnificent Moths >> U.S. MOTHS: Epiplemidae - Noctuidae:Catocalinae >> Banded Sphinx Caterpillar Instars (7865) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Banded Sphinx Caterpillar Instars (7865)



Banded Sphinx moth larvae (Eumorpha fasciatus) are striking and highly variable in color and pattern.
Some of the larva have more green than yellow or red.
Below are the instars I have observed over several years in Auburn, Alabama.
Source: http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/efascfas.htm
and http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/4747

Braconid Wasps (according to David L. Wagner, >40,000 species in the world) are often found to be parasitoids of Sphingid Moths.
In the photos below, the Banded Sphinx is the victim. The tiny wasp pierces the skin of the moth larva and deposits its eggs where they can hatch in the presence of many nutrients.
The wasp larvae do not damage the organs of the caterpillars.
The caterpillar can continue to feed and generate sufficient nutrients for many wasp larvae.
When they are ready to pupate these larvae exit through the skin of the caterpillar and spin cocoons in which to pass their pupation stage.
For more information on the parasitoids of sphingid moths, see: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/MothTalkDownload/MothTalk015.htm


4th Instar (Pink Form)
4th Instar (Pink Form)		 4th Instar (Pink Form)
4th Instar (Pink Form)		 4th Instar (Pink Form)
4th Instar (Pink Form)		 4th Instar (Pink Form)
4th Instar (Pink Form)		 4th Instar (Pink Form)
4th Instar (Pink Form)		 Braconid Wasp Parasitoids on Banded Sphinx Caterpillar
Braconid Wasp Parasitoids on Banded Sphinx Caterpillar
Banded Sphinx Moth Braconid Wasp Parasitoids
Banded Sphinx Moth Braconid Wasp Parasitoids 		Probably 3rd Instar (Green Form)
Probably 3rd Instar (Green Form)		 Probably 3rd Instar (Green Form)
Probably 3rd Instar (Green Form)		 4th Instar (Green Form)
4th Instar (Green Form)		 4th Instar (Green Form)
4th Instar (Green Form)		 4th Instar (Green Form)
4th Instar (Green Form)
4th Instar (Green Form)
4th Instar (Green Form)		 4th Instar (Yellow-pink form)
4th Instar (Yellow-pink form)		 4th Instar (Green Form)
4th Instar (Green Form)		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar
5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar
5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar
5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar		 5th Instar
5th Instar

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