
ENT 532 Fall 2024: Image of goldenrod (Solidago sp.) in Shingletown Gap woods
Observing insects along a path through the woods, I came across a caterpillar (Noctuidae) on a goldenrod (Solidago sp.) plant. The plant was one of seven or eight goldenrod plants in a sparse patch on the side of the path. I was surprised to see goldenrod at all, as the area was densely wooded and didn’t seem to receive a lot of light. This made me wonder how adult moths choose where to lay their eggs. Do they evaluate the quantity of potential food in an area before ovipositing? How far can they fly to find a suitable site? This particular patch of goldenrod did not seem like it could support many caterpillars and was isolated from any other patches of potential food. The caterpillar was on the plant’s stem, under the base of a leaf, which I suspect is a strategic location to avoid being seen by predators. I removed it from the stem, which required more force than I expected. When I held it and observed the ventral side, I noticed its prolegs expanding and contracting, making small hook-like structures at the end visible. When I allowed it to walk on my hand, I could feel these hooks slightly and it was well-attached; even when I turned my hand upside down and shook it, the caterpillar did not fall off.
Files
Metadata
Work Title | ENT 532 Fall 2024: Image of goldenrod (Solidago sp.) in Shingletown Gap woods |
---|---|
Access | |
Creators |
|
Keyword |
|
License | CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication) |
Work Type | Image |
Publication Date | September 24, 2024 |
Language |
|
DOI | doi:10.26207/x989-gj16 |
Geographic Area |
|
Deposited | September 24, 2024 |
Versions
Analytics
Collections
This resource is currently not in any collection.