Inchworm? - Wildlife Gardeners

bridget1964 · 08-18-2010, 01:56 PM

I found this little fella when I was mt. biking in PA a few weeks ago. I had stopped to drink some water and noticed him inching his way up the trunk of a tree. Boy, did he move quickly! I took a bunch of pictures of him, but here are just a few. I think it is the larva of an Elegant prominent, Odontosia elegans, but not entirely sure.

bridget1964 · 08-18-2010, 01:57 PM

I evolved!

havalotta · 08-18-2010, 03:24 PM

YEY... Here in.... a Her-on....

Nice inch worm.. They sure have a great camouflage! Soooo twig like. You probably would not have noticed him at all if it hadn't moved...

dapjwy · 08-18-2010, 04:24 PM

He could pass for a twig. Good camouflage. I think inchworms are really cool.

dapjwy · 08-18-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bridget1964

I evolved!

Congrats! Isn't it fun when you notice a new title? ~smile~ Cute concept.

dapjwy · 08-18-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havalotta

They sure have a great camouflage! Soooo twig like. You probably would not have noticed him at all if it hadn't moved...

GMTA (great minds think alike)

bridget1964 · 08-18-2010, 04:44 PM

I was quite impressed with his camouflage! He looked identical to the small twigs/branches of the tree he was inching on!

swamp thing · 08-19-2010, 02:09 AM

It's probably a geometrid moth of some kind, having only the two pairs of hind prolegs. It might be really hard to ID, there are so many.

suunto · 08-19-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bridget1964

I found this little fella when I was mt. biking in PA a few weeks ago. I had stopped to drink some water and noticed him inching his way up the trunk of a tree. Boy, did he move quickly! I took a bunch of pictures of him, but here are just a few. I think it is the larva of an Elegant prominent, Odontosia elegans, but not entirely sure.

This definitely is not Odontosia elegans; it is in the family Geometridae, a huge family with many species that can superficially resemble one another. I would defer to an expert in this group for a specific identification.

tineckbone · 08-19-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suunto

This definitely is not Odontosia elegans; it is in the family Geometridae, a huge family with many species that can superficially resemble one another. I would defer to an expert in this group for a specific identification.

Uh, YOU are our expert on all things crawly.

08-18-2010, 01:56 PM	#1
bridget1964 Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA	Inchworm? I found this little fella when I was mt. biking in PA a few weeks ago. I had stopped to drink some water and noticed him inching his way up the trunk of a tree. Boy, did he move quickly! I took a bunch of pictures of him, but here are just a few. I think it is the larva of an Elegant prominent, Odontosia elegans, but not entirely sure. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson http://mslenahan.edublogs.org/

08-18-2010, 01:57 PM	#2
bridget1964 Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA	I evolved! __________________ "Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson http://mslenahan.edublogs.org/

08-18-2010, 03:24 PM	#3
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	YEY... Here in.... a Her-on.... Nice inch worm.. They sure have a great camouflage! Soooo twig like. You probably would not have noticed him at all if it hadn't moved... __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

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08-18-2010, 04:24 PM	#4
dapjwy WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pennsylvania	He could pass for a twig. Good camouflage. I think inchworms are really cool.

08-18-2010, 04:44 PM	#7
bridget1964 Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA	I was quite impressed with his camouflage! He looked identical to the small twigs/branches of the tree he was inching on!

08-19-2010, 02:09 AM	#8
swamp thing Slapping, Swearing, Itching, Scratching Mosquito Bait Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: pennsylvania,usa	It's probably a geometrid moth of some kind, having only the two pairs of hind prolegs. It might be really hard to ID, there are so many.