Mystery larvae

[Richard Worth]

Hello Harriet,
Something bright orange with thin black tufts, feeding on an 
apocynaceous plant in the Tampa area leads me to the conclusion that 
you likely have the Oleander caterpillar.  Is this a landscape plant 
in your yard?  Go to this site:
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/Ole_cpillar.htm
to see if it is the right beast.  The adult is a real beauty.

Rich

>Can anyone tell me what butterfly or other insect uses Pentalinon
>lutea as a host plant?  The caterpillars are orange with tufts of
>straight stiff hairs.  The Pentalinon is growing somewhat north of its
>natural range, in Tampa, FL.
>
>Thanks,
>Harriett
>
>
>
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Richard A. Worth
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Plant Division
rworth at oda.state.or.us
(503) 986-6461

 
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