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The common garden
hollyhock comes in a variety of colors and forms. It is a
member of the "Mallow" family, and is used as a host plant by the
larvae of butterflies, moths, and sawflies (Hymenoptera) that
use other species of mallow. Below are some pictures of
species I have found here in New Mexico, this season (2007).
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different
colors
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The West
Coast Lady (Vanessa
annabella) often make "tents' for their caterpillars, and
they vary in color
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The Gray
Hairstreak (Strymon
melinus) caterpillars are variable, and they
primarily eat the flowers, not leaves.
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The White (?)
Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus
albascens (?)) caterpillars are small and make a nest. They
eat leaves.
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The Arizona Powdered Skipper (Systasea zampa) caterpillars are larger and also make a nest. They
eat leaves.
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Some
moth species use it as a host too...species unknown
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The Sawfly
larva ( Arge species?)
look like caterpillars, are very messy, and can make the plant look
bad, often stripping many leaves. I do not recommend
pesticides
to get rid of them. I just prune the leaves they are working
on.
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images
copyright Bob Barber
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