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New England Caterpillars All Galleries

Grapes and Caterpillars { 6 images } Created 11 Oct 2013

This gallery is meant to demonstrate the fantastic diversity of life that lives under the canopy of an ordinary grapevine.
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  • An old stone wall along a country road in Medfield, Massachusetts. There is just enough sunlight hitting the rocks to support a lush sprawling grape vine, while Virginia creeper grows up the trunks of bordering trees. Turning over leaves in early July, I uncover eight-spotted foresters, their striking dress boldly declaring their presence.
    Eight-spotted Forester with galls
  • An overgrown carriage trail in Concord, Massachusetts. Grapevines blanket apple, winterberry, and honeysuckle, smoothing over rough edges and softening the landscape. A leaf has been reduced to just a remnant. Uncovered nearby, the culprit, a rusty orange hog sphinx, rears its bulky head towards the sky. A familiar greeting.
    "The Color of Grape" – D..vine
  • A green phase final instar Abbott's Sphinx.  This species is a remarkable mimic throughout its life cycle.
    Abbott's Sphinx on grape cluster
  • The Beautiful Woodnymph is always a joy to find when turning grape leaves in the late summer.  Though the red coloration is probably sending a message of warning, it does blend nicely with the reds and pinks of sun drenched grapevines.
    Woodnymph on Cape Cod grapes
  • A shifting dune in Provincetown, Cape Cod. The gnarled woody base of a decades old grapevine emerges from the bank of a sandy hill. In stark contrast, this season’s spray of fresh green grape leaves lead away on a trailing vine. A diminutive plant in a sparse and sometimes harsh environment would seem like an unlikely home for one of New England's most fabulous caterpillars. But overturning the vine in early August, there they are: orange, red, and green.
    "Orange Red Green" – Eum..vine
  • "Father of Monsters" – E..rape