Observation field: Insect Host Plant
Plant on which eggs were deposited/larva feeding.
lynnwatson
Observations specifying this field
| Observation | Insect Host Plant |
|---|---|
Photos / SoundsWhatAmerican Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)Observeraparrot1DescriptionAmerican Lady butterfly with the two large (distinctive) eye spots on hind wings nectaring on Western Wallflower blossoms. American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) Is a medium-size butterfly in the Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) family with a wingspan of 1.75-2.0 inches.
Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, Chris Tenney and Jan Austin, August 2023, pp. 136-137. eButterfly: https://www.e-butterfly.org/ebapp/en/species/profile/262 Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West: a field guide to the butterflies of western North America, by Jeffrey Glassberg, 2001, pp. 188-189. Bug photographs from the U.S/Canada for I.D: https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Vanessa+virginiensis Butterflies and Moths of North America https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-virginiensis xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Butterfly and Caterpillar (General References) Field Guide to California Insects, by Kip Will, J. Gross, D. Rubinoff , J. Powell, 2nd ed., 2020 (Lepidoptera, pp. 347-426) BugGuide: Butterflies and Moths (U.S. and Canada) clickable categories or use search bar: https://bugguide.net/node/view/57 Glossary of Butterfly (and Moth) Terminology: https://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/resources/glossary Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, by Chris Tenney and photograher Jan Austin, August 2023, pp.xx and Butterflies of Monterey County (companion website to text): https://www.montereybutterflies.online/ eButterfly: (2115+ species) https://www.e-butterfly.org/ebapp/en/observations/explore Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West: a field guide to the butterflies of western North America, by Jeffrey Glassberg, 2001 Butterflies of Central and Northern California, a laminated pamphlet (guide to common and notable species) by Jim Brock, 2023 Caterpillar Anatomy diagram and Butterfly Basics: https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/caterpillarprintout.shtml Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Egg --> Larva (the caterpillar) --> Pupa (the chrysalis or cocoon) --> Adult. Caterpillars: INaturalist Project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-caterpillars Wagner's Caterpillars of Western North America (coming soon) "1450+ species accounts in progress" INat thebals 6/6/23. |
Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) |
| Asters and Allies (Tribe Astereae) | |
Photos / SoundsWhatAbbott's Sphinx (Sphecodina abbottii)ObserverosmeteriumDescriptionFound 7/2/2023 on Virginia creeper
|
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) |
| Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea) | |
| Swamp Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia) | |
Photos / SoundsWhatVariable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)Observeraparrot1DescriptionVariable Checkerspot nectaring on Western Wallflower blossoms. Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) is a medium-size butterfly in the Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) family with a wingspan of 1.5-2 inches. The antennae are always orange, including the club. It's wing appearance is "variable," dependent on subspecies (and there are many ssp.) It has one flight March-July. It is found in open areas in oak woodland and chaparral, often along trails. Larval food plants include monkeyflowers and Paintbrush (Castilleja). It is a puddler. Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, by Chris Tenney and photograher Jan Austin, August 2023, pp. 118-119. eButterfly: https://www.e-butterfly.org/ebapp/en/species/profile/247 Link to observation of caterpillars on Orange Bush Monkeyflower plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107807408
Butterflies Through Binoculars: pp. 170-173. Butterflies and Moths of North America: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euphydryas-chalcedona BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Euphydryas+chalcedona Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. Brock and Kaufman, 2003, pp. 194-195. Butterflies & Their Favorite Flowering Plants: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park & Environs, Lynn and Gene Monroe, 2004, p. 73. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Butterfly and Caterpillar (General References) Field Guide to California Insects, by Kip Will, J. Gross, D. Rubinoff , J. Powell, 2nd ed., 2020 (Lepidoptera, pp. 347-426) BugGuide: Butterflies and Moths (U.S. and Canada) clickable categories or use search bar: https://bugguide.net/node/view/57 Glossary of Butterfly (and Moth) Terminology: https://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/resources/glossary Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, by Chris Tenney and photograher Jan Austin, August 2023, pp.xx and Butterflies of Monterey County (companion website to text): https://www.montereybutterflies.online/ eButterfly: (2115+ species) https://www.e-butterfly.org/ebapp/en/observations/explore Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West: a field guide to the butterflies of western North America, by Jeffrey Glassberg, 2001 Butterflies of Central and Northern California, a laminated pamphlet (guide to common and notable species) by Jim Brock, 2023 Caterpillar Anatomy diagram and Butterfly Basics: https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/caterpillarprintout.shtml Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Egg --> Larva (the caterpillar) --> Pupa (the chrysalis or cocoon) --> Adult. Caterpillars: INaturalist Project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-caterpillars Wagner's Caterpillars of Western North America (coming soon) "1450+ species accounts in progress" INat thebals 6/6/23. |
Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) |
Photos / Sounds
WhatJohnson's Jumping Spider (Phidippus johnsoni)ObserverkgoforthDescriptionApproximately 1/2” long |
unknown |
| Section Melioides | |
Photos / SoundsWhatSmeared Dagger (Acronicta oblinita)ObserverceisemanDescriptionOn Lysimachia terrestris. |
Swamp Candles (Lysimachia terrestris) |
| Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) | |
| Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) | |
Photos / SoundsWhatNorthern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)Observeraparrot1DescriptionLink to Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) host plant observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208642233 Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) A.k.a Cecropterus pylades. Small butterfly in the Skippers (Hesperiidae) family with a wingspan of 1.25-1.5 inches. It has one flight, March-July. It is found on hilltops in the Santa Lucia mountain range, riparian canyons, and in pine-oak woodlands. Favorite adult nectar plants: mints, vetches, thistle, Brodiaea, and California Buckeye. Larval food plants are in the Pea family: Acmispon, Lotus, and Vetches. Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, by Chris Tenney and photograher Jan Austin, August 2023, 160-161.
eButterfly (lists 6 subspecies, calls it by genus name Cecropterus, as of 4/22/24)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Butterfly and Caterpillar References (in general) eButterfly: (2115+ species) https://www.e-butterfly.org/ebapp/en/observations/explore Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, by Chris Tenney and photograher Jan Austin, August 2023, pp.xx and Butterflies of Monterey County (companion website to text): https://www.montereybutterflies.online/ Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West: a field guide to the butterflies of western North America, by Jeffrey Glassberg, 2001 Glossary of Butterfly (and Moth) Terminology: https://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/resources/glossary BugGuide: Butterflies and Moths (U.S. and Canada) clickable categories or use search bar: https://bugguide.net/node/view/57 Field Guide to California Insects, by Kip Will, J. Gross, D. Rubinoff , J. Powell, 2nd ed., 2020 (Lepidoptera, pp. 347-426) Butterflies and Moths of North America https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species_search Butterflies of Central and Northern California, a laminated pamphlet (guide to common and notable species) by Jim Brock,, 2023 Caterpillar Anatomy diagram and Butterfly Basics: https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/caterpillarprintout.shtml Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Egg --> Larva (the caterpillar) --> Pupa (the chrysalis or cocoon) --> Adult. Caterpillars: INaturalist Project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-caterpillars Wagner's Caterpillars of Western North America "last we heard 1450 species accounts were in progress" thebals 6/6/23. |
Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) |
| Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata) | |
| Box Elder (Acer negundo) | |
| Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) | |
| Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | |
| Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) | |
| Bearded Swallow-Wort (Metastelma barbigerum) | |
| Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) | |
| Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) | |
Photos / Sounds
WhatCarpocoris pudicusObserverfgallhuberDescriptionOne of three animals I photographed at this location on the same day and time: |
Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum) |
Photos / SoundsWhatSatyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)ObserverdavideperryDescriptionFlitting around the stinging nettle patch in Stewart Wechsler’s wildflower meadow in Lincoln Park and sunning in various spots nearby. In this first image with the butterfly hanging upside down you can see that she is bending her abdomen upward, touching it to the stem, as if to deposit an egg. |
Nettles (Genus Urtica) |
Photos / SoundsWhatGray Hooded Owlet (Cucullia florea)ObserverosmeteriumDescriptionFound 6/29/2023 on fleabane
|
Fleabanes and Horseweeds (Genus Erigeron) |
| Carolina Crane's-Bill (Geranium carolinianum) | |
Photos / SoundsWhatDowdy Pinion (Lithophane unimoda)ObserverosmeteriumDescriptionFound 6/19/2023 on black cherry
|
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) |
| Sonoma Ceanothus (Ceanothus sonomensis) | |
| Fleabanes and Horseweeds (Genus Erigeron) | |
Photos / Sounds
WhatCommon Sawflies (Family Tenthredinidae)ObserverdanastimpsonDescriptionFeeding on the berries of Solomon's Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) |
Solomon's Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) |
| Showy Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) | |
| Wild Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) |
Projects Using This Field
Butterfly & Moth Host Plants
ETCMN Caterpillars
Ash Interactions in North America
San Carlos Native Plant Habitat Garden
Caterpillar and Sawfly Host Plants of the NE US
Comments
Definitely, for me you can go ahead, thanks @mikeburrell!
Tagging a few more heavy users of this data field: @christine123 @mws @joebartok @crgillette @ansel_oommen @harumkoh @kens18 @fabienpiednoir @larry522 @spritelink @molanic
Does anyone object to merging this data field with "Host Plant ID" (https://inaturalist.org/observation_fields/6586). Both are "taxon" type fields and really this field (Insect host plant ID) is just a more specific version of "Host Plant ID". I don't think we would lose any functionality (you could query for insect records with a host plant ID field filled out).
As long as all usage of this field gets converted into usage of host plant ID, I’m good with it. I see no difference in the meanings between the two fields
Sincerely, I don't know. I've been used with "Insect Host Plant". Can't figure how this will affect data losses to switch to a different field.
I don't see eitheir any need to merge the two : if one is dissatisfied by this one, why then not simply drop it and use the other one ? What does this bring to merge the two ?
By merging the two it makes it easier to search for host plant records. Right now, it could be buried in two different (but essentially the same) fields requiring at least two different queries. If the two get merged, anywhere that currently uses Insect Host Plant will be replaced by Host Plant (e.g. if a project currently uses insect host plant, it will become host plant). Generally, if there is not a need for two different fields (which so far no one has raised) then it is better to simplify and use a single field.
I don't object to the merger!
"Insect Host Plant" was created first, and thus should be the one that is kept. A note was added to the "Host Plant ID" that it was a duplicate field and shouldn't have been created.
Fungi and mites can also have host plants. I think the more general one should be used
And I still don't see why the two should be merged. Different needs, different ways. I don't see where is the problem. On the other hand, this seems t be many work and time for not that many use...
I just want to clear this up - there's basically zero work involved for people here. You certainly would not have to change any records - merging the two fields would transfer the value from "insect host plant" to "host plant ID".
The only difference would be the name of the field. It will not change the actual data.
The problem we would be "fixing" is to consolidate the information. Here's an actual example: right now if I want to find records of the butterfly Danaus plexippus on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) I have to do at least two queries; one for records of Danaus plexipus with Insect Host Plant = Asclepias syriaca and one for records of Danaus plexippus with Host Plant ID = Asclepias syriaca because users might have used either observation field.
If we can merge these two data fields, all of the values in Insect Host Plant will be transferred into Host Plant ID, so a single query would return all of the results of the two above.
I hope that makes sense. It is to help improve how easy it is to find information in iNaturalist. The only actual work involved is we can't do the merge until there are no projects with "Insect Host Plant" as an observation field (there are four projects currently using Insect Host Plant) there is nothing anyone else needs to do.
In the situation you're talking about, problem is actually that users used a field while there was already one for the same issue...
How would you prevent this to happen again, and people to create new similar fields ? Not to mention that fields can be designed for a peculiar purpose, and thenafter used in a different way...
An obs. can actually have various fields, even with the same value.
In the example above, If I want to work on Danaus on A. syriaca, I'll review D. plexippus obs., and add the field "Insect host plant" on the ones where it is missing. I know you will say that's a lot of work, maybe futile, but how could you, elsewhere, know every obs. is filled, and properly field ?
The problematic project has been deleted. So now feel free to do anything you're judging usefull and necessary. I expressed myself on this, and I have nothing to add.
Would anyone object to this data field being merged with "Host Plant ID" (https://inaturalist.org/observation_fields/6586). Both are "taxon" type fields and really this field (Insect host plant ID) is just a more specific version of "Host Plant ID". Tagging some curators of projects currently using this field: @finatic, @greglasley, @microm, @trcarlisle, @leo_dapporto, @mattiamenchetti, @ciniale, @svania, @ilplataleo, @fabienpiednoir