Starr County Butterflies
3-10-09, just found, an estimated 2-3 days old
3-12-08
3-14-09
3-16-09
3-26-09, full-grown caterpillar
Chrysalis formed, 3-31-09
Ready to emerge, 4-6-09
Just emerged from chrysalis
Wings filled out but still soft
Ready to fly out the window, 4-6-09
(Written April, 2009. More recent and complete history here)
Crescents frequently use our Shrimp plants (Justicia brandegeana) as host plants. Despite this regular use, I have never found eggs or seen one ovipositing. However, I have learned that when a leaf turns papery thin and starts to lose its shape, there are probably caterpillars underneath it. It was the leaf damage that drew my attention to these Texan Crescent caterpillars when they were two or three days old. It took them just over three weeks to pupate, and another week to emerge.
As can be seen from the second picture, the caterpillars enjoyed the flowers as well as the leaves of the shrimp plant.
I have found individual caterpillars on Mexican Plume, Justicia fulvicoma; however, only on the brandegeana have I found the masses of caterpillars that I believe are typical of this species.
Pale-banded or Tulcis Crescents also use the Shrimp plants. The mature caterpillars are easily distinguished: texana are much darker, almost black, with the upper white stripes barely visible if at all. The tulcis caterpillars are dark green and the white stripe is more obvious. A tulcis life history may be seen here and a comparison of crescent caterpillars here.