Category: 2026 Caterpillar Season

2026 Caterpillar Season – Ashen Pinion

2026 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Ashen Pinion
Lithophane antennata (Walker, 1858) P-no. 932577, fam. Noctuidae
Host plant: Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Dates found: 2 May, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This species is noteworthy for a couple of interesting natural history stories. First, this is a rare case of a lepidopteran that overwinters as an adult. Larvae of this species are also known to be cannibalistic, feeding on other caterpillars in addition to the leaves of their host plant.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Juniper Hairstreak

2026 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus (Hübner, 1809) P-no. 77a0507, fam. Lycaenidae
Host plant: eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Dates found: 9, 24 May, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A master of camouflage. As the photos show, it would be a waste of time hunting for this species by eye amongst the countless branches of an eastern red cedar. Instead, using beating techniques or UV light at night are the best methods for finding these guys.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Banded Hairstreak

2026 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Banded Hairstreak
Satyrium calanus fam. Lycaenidae
Host plant: hickory (Carya sp.)
Dates found: 2 May, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This was an interesting find. I looked through a number of fresh leaf-roll shelters, finding all of them occupied by a to be identified noctuid caterpillar. In one of these I also found this banded hairstreak caterpillar that was being attended by ants.