Given the advancement of September toward October, the fact that the leaves are beginning to turn from their vivid green to shades of orange, and the increased activity of the Red-breasted Nuthatches at the feeders, I have begun to make peace with the fact that I shall soon cease to see many of the Lepidoptera winging their way along the roadsides and through the sunbeams that pierce the stand of Douglas Fir trees behind our home. Cabbage Whites, Pieris rapae, are still relatively plentiful however this in itself is a sign that autumn is not far away. Which is why I was so surprised to find this little caterpillar making its way across our driveway this afternoon.
I am at a loss as to put a taxonomic name to it. It reminds me of the caterpillar of the Great Tiger Moth, Actia caja, but the images I can find of that caterpillar show a more densely covered creature; this one seems rather sparse, especially regarding the guard hairs which I only noticed upon closer examination. I have uploaded an image of this caterpillar to Bug Guide in hope of someone with particular expertise in the late summer – early fall caterpillars of the Pacific Northwest seeing it and suggesting an identity.
In any case, I inconvenienced it only a few minutes in order to record its image for posterity, then sent it back on its way in the same location as it was discovered. I can only assume it was seeking a place in which to pupate and overwinter – however that is only an assumption based on the scantest of evidence. Wherever it was bound, I wish it good-speed and hope to see it once again in a very different form come spring.
Peace and good bird watching.
