Zerene cesonia life history
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) Life History


Egg, 9-27-09

Recently emerged caterpillar, 10-02-09
     

Egg, 10-05-09

10-06-09
       

10-9-09
     

10-13-09
     

10-17-09
     

10-25-09, chrysalis
     

Fresh Southern Dogface, 11-4-09
 

With blue and orange stripes contrasting the yellow and black bands, Southern Dogface caterpillars are strikingly beautiful. I found a number of Southern Dogface eggs on Bearded Dalea (Dale pogonathera) in later September, 2009. I collected three caterpillars to raise when the eggs eclosed. I also collected a few more while gathering food to feed the original caterpillars. Some of these proved to be parasitized.

Southern Dogface Page