Page 265 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION The Andes of Colombia and Ecuador
HABITAT Mid-elevation cloud forests, forest edges,
and bamboo-dominated gaps
HOST PLANTS Bamboo (Chusquea spp.)

NOTE Extremely cryptic caterpillar that is common but di cult to nd
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but unlikely to be endangered

ADULT WINGSPAN
1⅞–2⅛ in (48–54 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1½–1⅝ in (38–42 mm)
PEDALIODES PEUCESTAS
PEDALIODES PEUCESTAS 263

(HEWITSON, 1862)

Eggs of Pedaliodes peucestas are laid singly, occasionally in
pairs, on the underside of host plant leaves. The newly hatched
caterpillar is tiny and pale white, with a bulbous, brown head.
Its first meal is its own eggshell, but it quickly moves on to
leaves, soon taking on the green coloration of its host plant and
becoming nearly impossible to see. The cycle from egg-laying,

through all ve larval stages to the emergence of the adult can
take more than 110 days. The pupal stage alone may last more
than 25 days.
Actual size
This widespread species is often one of the most common adult
butterflies within its habitat. Adults, which feed on animal

droppings and carrion, are seen itting almost ceaselessly along
roadsides and over large tracts of their bamboo host plant. They

y in all weathers, except for heavy rain, although they are quick The Pedaliodes peucestas caterpillar is overall
to resume activity as soon as the storm has passed. extremely cryptically colored, resembling a
decaying mossy stick or portion of a bamboo
leaf petiole. Its complex mottling of various
shades of brown is here and there highlighted
with just the right amount of green to enhance
the resemblance to a twig. The head capsule
is generally squared-o , with a slightly
cat-eared appearance.