October 2006. The caterpillar illustrated is about 4 cm long and was found climbing on a building at the University of Guam.

It was identified as the caterpillar of the Evening brown butterfly, Melanitis leda – this feeds on large grasses like sugarcane. If it is not this, then it definitely the larva of a Satyrine (brown) butterfly.

The author of the message confirmed the identification. It is Melanitis leda, a satyrid. It is also said to attack rice. There is a picture of it in Ilse Schreiner & Don Nafus’s book Butterflies of Micronesia. Also, there is good info in:

Herbison-Evans, Don and Stella Crossley. Melanitis leda. Available online at:

http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/macleay/larvae/nymp/leda.html