Identify Caterpaillar

[kcpoole]

Hi all

While looking at my trees today, I noticed this little Guy
He is a bout 3 inches long and is one of about 5 on one my figs.

Does anyone know what he will become? and should i get rid of him ( the foliage does not matter at the moment ).
If he will make a nice butterfly then i will leave them alone, but i want to take the top off the tree for cuttings and put a layer on it as well.


Ken

[Petra]

looks to me like the wondera butterfly, (the big orange one) normaly lives on the milk bush. By the looks of his position hes
getting ready to turn into a crysalist. That alone is something to see, as that turns into a silver colour. Id let him be and enjoy
watching one of natures miracles .

[Bonsai Boy]

HI everyone;
I've got a question also about bugs and pests.
While looking at my tree's today ialso found something on my kingsville box it looked like (pardon my words) bird poo!
Could anyone tell me what it may be??
bonsai boy

[Ron]

Noticed my pup was worrying something in the garden yesterday arvo and went over for a look. Turned about to be a caterpillar which must have been at least 15cms long and 2-3cms wide - biggest one I've ever seen.

Had to quietly drop it over the fence into the neighbour's yard (I'll hear the scream if the old dear sees it) before the dog could harm it.

Ron ...

[Petra]

With out a picture it could be any thing, BB But to take a stab in the dark i would think it to be the orchard butterfly.
( big black One with red dots on the bottom outer wings).
They feed on the citrus leaves.

[shibui]

Bonsai boy,
It could be ....Bird Poo
Without a photo its a bit hard to guess but there is a bird dropping spider that sits with legs tucked up looking just like it. If its soft and bubbly it could be spittle bug... Maybe lots of other things.

[kcpoole]

Thanks Petra

I will watch it over the next few weeks and see what happens. How long till the build the cocoon and then to emerge?

Ken

Update
Found this page that tells all about them
Verry pretty

Will monitor to see what happens

Ken

[Tony Bebb]

Very pretty indeed Ken.

My kids used to love watching them and they love Weeping Figs. They don't eat too much unless you have heaps, but it does save you defoliating

Can't remember how long they take, but I think should happen in around 4-6 weeks.

Tony

[Bretts]

I saw one very similar on one of my fig trees. Couple of days later I thought to show my son and found a Golden cocoon instead. I mean it looked like actual real gold. Anyone I showed it too did not believe it was real. You could have worn it as an earring. I took the leaf it was attached to and hung it up inside the house so we could see what came out but it eventually went bad

[lennard]

Maybe this one:

http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/nymp/core.html

In India they have an almost similar species. They are called cat apillars

Image3.jpg

Lennard

[cosmo123]

Hi KC...follow this link

http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/nymp/core.html

Looks exactly like your caterpillar

Cheers

[kcpoole]

Hi have been checking every day and the numbers keep changing.
They must wander of at night into another tree

Ken