I (Bill Oehlke) am not sure if the larval images below (Los Angeles County, California, Jennifer L. Bundy) are of Euproserpinus phaeton or Euproserpinus euterpe. If they are phaeton, they are probably the nominate subspecies. If they are euterpe, the location indicates a slight southerly range extension compared to published reports (Kern County and San Luis Obispo County). There might even be some gene mixing in Los Angeles County.

Jennifer writes, "First weekend of April, I hit the road in search of Euproserpinus phaeton mojave (either adult, caterpillar, or ova). My trip would end as far north as Los Angeles County. In one region of L.A. county, I sampled from 5 different localities (roadside, washes, hillside) and looking under every Oenothera (Primrose) leaf I could for ova. The problem is that Euproserpinus and Hyles ova are almost identical and both moths post ova under the leaf. With each tiny green egg I found, my only option was to take it home and wait to see what emerges.

"I brought the ova home and set them up in cups labeled with locality markers. Of the estimate 150 ova from L.A. County, 149 were Hyles and only one would turn out to be Euproserpinus.

"Being that the ovum is from L.A. County, and based on prior research, the species would have to be mojave, or nominate phaeton, and not euterpe. However, this caterpillar is rather colorful. Comparing my photos of this cat with Paul Johnson’s photos at Bill Oehlke’s site, it looks like euterpe. For those familiar with seeing phaeton and euterpe caterpillars in the field, please have a look at my shots and tell me what you think. Regardless of what species, I was sad to see the conditions of the habitat - there was trash piles everywhere and it's also a semi-motocross track."

Contact Jennifer L. Bundy by email at Jennifer L. Bundy.

Euproserpinus phaeton "mojave" female, Yuma, Arizona,
December 9, 2008, courtesy of Jennifer L. Bundy.

Euproserpinus phaeton/euterpe ??, first instar, Los Angeles County, California,
April 8, 2009, courtesy of Jennifer L. Bundy.

Euproserpinus phaeton/euterpe ??, third instar, Los Angeles County, California,
14mm, April 16, 2009, courtesy of Jennifer L. Bundy.

Euproserpinus phaeton/euterpe ??, third instar, Los Angeles County, California,
14mm, April 16, 2009, courtesy of Jennifer L. Bundy.

Euproserpinus phaeton/euterpe ??, fourth instar, Los Angeles County, California,
14mm, April 16, 2009, courtesy of Jennifer L. Bundy.

Euproserpinus phaeton/euterpe ??, fifth instar, Los Angeles County, California,
37mm, April 22, 2009, courtesy of Jennifer L. Bundy.

Euproserpinus phaeton/euterpe ??, fifth instar, Los Angeles County, California,
37mm, April 22, 2009, courtesy of Jennifer L. Bundy.

Comments to Bill Oehlke would be appreciated.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Enjoy one of nature's wonderments: Live Saturniidae (Giant Silkmoth) cocoons.

Show appreciation for this site by clicking on flashing butterfly to the left. The link will take you to a page with links to many insect sites.