Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
4 ratings

Saturday - September 19, 2009

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Orange-red caterpillar with black spikes on passionflower vine
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

What kind of orange-red caterpillar with black spikes is all over my passion vine?

ANSWER:

Well, Mr. Smarty Plants is not an entomologist, but according to the Austin Bug Collection the Agraulis vanillae (Gulf fritillary) is "by far our most common passionflower butterfly."  Another orange and black caterpillar found on passionflowers is Euptoieta claudia (variegated fritillary).  Hopefully, one of these matches the caterpilllar on your passionflower vines.

 

 

More Vines Questions

What color should I paint a gazebo for vines in Arizona?
January 29, 2014 - I have a two questions. I have a dome shaped metal gazebo that I want a vine to grow up the 4 columns and cover the top. I live in Tempe, AZ which is hugely hot in summer. The gazebo is black right ...
view the full question and answer

Rash from non-native potato vines
July 21, 2010 - Here in No. CA we have two potato vines that over the last 5-6 years have flourished gloriously. Just this year, we went to prune them (as we normally do once or twice a year), and both my husband an...
view the full question and answer

Promoting bloom of crossvine
January 05, 2008 - I planted a crossvine a couple of years ago and it has grown quite well, climbing well up the Mesquite tree it was planted under. However, it has never bloomed. I was really looking forward to those...
view the full question and answer

Are vines harmful to bricks and mortar?
July 09, 2010 - I am really fond of native vines such as crossvine, coral honeysuckle, American wisteria and carolina jessamine. I love the look of vines on walls and I would like to add this to a landscape design. ...
view the full question and answer

Vines for Austin, Texas
July 23, 2010 - I have heavy clay soil that is very wet during rainy season. I would like to plant climbing, blooming native. Crossvine and trumpet creeper are doing well but need another vine for an area that gets f...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.