Observation date: October 20, 2020
Date notes: warm weather, sunny
Submitted by: rgreppert
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: It was on a trail that is near the Boat Launch entrance at Blue Marsh. There are asters along the trail. There are mixed hardwoods in the area including hackberry, a pine and oak. There are cornfields nearby. There were many birds out, including a jay that watched me gather the caterpillar. The caterpillar was attached to a stone in the middle of the path by a sticky substance that was coming from its head. At first I thought it was dead. I took it home in a plastic bin with leaves and grass, but it died two days later. It may have died anyway due to being stepped on, or bird predation. Penn State is doing lanternfly research nearby. They can give the names of the trees. Downhill is a big patch of milkweed. Since it was on the path I cannot say which is the host plant. My mentor suggested I submit this picture. Neither of us could identify it. I looked at over 100 images online. It has one horn in the center of its head and a row of pale yellow or white spots on either side of its body. Earlier in the day I sighted several monarchs and in the field across the street from where I saw this caterpillar there were Buckeyes, Fritillaries and Sulfurs. Blue Marsh is a rich habitat and I have been studying butterflies there for two seasons.
Status: Resident
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: November 12, 2020
Coordinator notes: None.
