| Actual Image
Tawny Emperor? (14)
angybone
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1191 W: 14 N: 2371]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (7672) | I've spent almost two hours trying to identify this butterfly. I think it's a tawny emperor. I'll do the notes based on that id, but if somebody decides I'm wrong, I won't be hurt:
According to Stokes' Butterfly Book (purchased this very weekend), the Tawny Emperor, Asterocampa clyton, these little fellows don't last long. Their life span is only a few weeks. Now for an interesting fact:
"The sight and odor of frass (fecal droppings) make caterpillars more easily discovered by predators. A marvelous behavior that reduces predation on these caterpillars is site cleaning. Tawny emperor caterpillars bite the pellets of frass they produce and remove them from the leaves on which they are feeding."
Sanitary caterpillars!!! |
|
