desiree_beaudry's Identifications

this observation is intended to capture whatever caused the demise of this gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) caterpillar. it looks like there's a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) that might liquify caterpillars just before pupation, but I wonder if there's anything else that might cause a caterpillar death like this? photo 2 shows the caterpillar in context, with a chrysalis that probably also met an unfortunate end (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14930307) on the same plant. the green lacewing (Chrysopidae) larva to the right of the caterpillar is captured in a separate observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14930909.

this observation is intended to capture whatever caused the demise of this gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) caterpillar. it looks like there's a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) that might liquify caterpillars just before pupation, but I wonder if there's anything else that might cause a caterpillar death like this? photo 2 shows the caterpillar in context, with a chrysalis that probably also met an unfortunate end (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14930307) on the same plant. the green lacewing (Chrysopidae) larva to the right of the caterpillar is captured in a separate observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14930909.