Yellow-Striped armyworm - Spodoptera ornithogalli

by Carol Senske

Title

Yellow-Striped armyworm - Spodoptera ornithogalli

Artist

Carol Senske

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

The moth for this caterpillar is colored in shades of brown with the upper wings nicely patterned for camouflage. Moths live for approximately 17 days, and there are 3 to 4 hatches each year. Although they range throughout the eastern half of America and into the southern part of Canada, they cannot survive severe cold. Each year they migrate from the southern climes northward.

The caterpillars eat almost anything - this one was on our tomato plants. Their importance as pests is small, and they are victims of predatory wasps and bugs.

I was captivated by the bright colors, so I placed it on white paper to photograph it before putting it back outside (in the woods, not on the tomatoes).

This picture was taken July 20, 2011, in Green Lane, Pennsylvania.

If you's like a bit more information on these critters, check out this web site:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/leaf/yellowstriped_armyworm.htm







throughout the eastern half of America and even into southern Canada, they cannot survive severe cold

Uploaded

July 23rd, 2011

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags