Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)

Robber flies aren't always predators. Sometimes they can be prey, like this one captured by a female Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)

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Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Range: The Red Admiral is a widespread butterfly found in temperate regions of North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. It's southern North American range extends through Mexico and down into Guatemala. During the summer, the Red Admiral extends its range into northern Canada. It cannot survive the winters in the northern parts of its range but recolonizes every summer. It overwinters as an adult in southern regions and can also hibernate during periods of extreme cold.

Caterpillar hosts: Various species of nettle.

Adult food: Adults prefer tree sap, fermented fruit, bird droppings and other forms of manure. When these are not available they will take nectar from flowers. (The Red Admiral in the top photo is on a piece of plywood that was formerly the bottom to our garden cart which has hauled many a load of manure.)

Sources and More Info:
BugGuide Species Page
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Iowa State University
Wikipedia

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Robber Fly

Robber fly dining on a Silver Spotted Skipper.

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Variegated Fritillary Butterfly (Euptoieta claudia)

A very common, widespread and prolific butterfly. Both adults and caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants.

Range: Higher elevations of Argentina through Central America and Mexico to the southern United States; also Cuba and Jamaica. Regularly colonizes north through most of the United States except the Pacific Northwest.

Flight: Three broods from April-October in the north, four broods from February or March-November or December in the south.

Habitat: Open sunny areas such as prairies, fields, pastures, road edges, landfills. Males patrol short distances in flat, dry, open places. Eggs are laid singly on host plant stems and leaves; caterpillars eat leaves and flowers.

Sources and additional information:
BugGuide Species Page
Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Cecropia Moth Caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia)

Judging by it's size (only about 1 1/2 inches/4cm) and markings, I'd guess that this Cecropia Moth caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia) is in its third instar. It grows through five instars, shedding its skin between each stage. It will grow to over 4 inches/10 cm before spinning a cocoon where it will overwinter before emerging as a moth. Caterpillars feed on leaves of various trees and shrubs including alder, apple, ash, beech, birch, box-elder, cherry, dogwood, elm, gooseberry, maple, plum, poplar, white oak, willow. This particular one was feeding on wild plum.

(Wormspit has photos of every stage of development from eggs through moth.)





With its nearly six inch (15cm) wingspan, Cecropia Moths are the largest moths native to North America. Like all Giant Silkmoths (Saturniinae),  Cecropia has a brief lifespan as an adult moth -- only a matter of days. It does not feed, but only finds a mate, breeds, lays eggs if a female and dies. (My previous post on these moths has more species details and links.)

(Photo credit for both photos belongs to Jo. She took the caterpillar shot on 7/13/09 and the moth was taken on 5/29/08.)

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Pandorus Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus)

Range: A fairly common sphinx moth (Sphingidae) in eastern and central North America.

Wing span: 3 1/4 - 4 1/2 inches (8.2 - 11.5 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus).

Adult food: Nectar from flowers including petunia (Petunia hybrida), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), and white campion (Lychnis alba).

Sources and additional information:

BugGuide - Sphingidae

BugGuide - Eumorpha pandorus

Butterflies and Moths of North America

Bill Oehlke's Sphingidae Site

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