Date: 07/17/2011

Number: 1

Among an estimated about 72 linear ft X est 3 ft wide, or 216 sq ft of Asclepias speciosa beside 395 just south of Gardnerville, one lonely larva. Here are my notes: "Plants extremely clean, few holes of other signs of chewing, except a few leaf-ends. A red longhorn beetle appeared to be in process of chewing one such leaf. No aphids. Found one larva 4th or 5th instar. (I took pictures of it). I was puzzled by the fact that there was no sign of chewing on any plant anywhere in the vicinity. The only explanation I can come up with is that the larva is a survivor from one of those mowed plants. Surely it couldn’t just be coming out of hibernation……. Which was my first thought. (It has been freezing at night until just recently)". The mowed plants reference is to the fact that in that same place had also been, back in June when I inspected the area, A fascicularis. Both species were reported then to be "about knee-high". But when I came back, they had mowed along the drainage ditch and gotten all the A.fascicularis.

Gardnerville, NV

Latitude: 38.8 Longitude: -119.6

Observed by: Patricia F.
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