Page 277 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION Tropical Mexico to Venezuela and south along the Andes
to central Peru
HABITAT Humid subtemperate and upper tropical montane forests and
forest borders
HOST PLANTS Urera spp.
NOTE Caterpillar that, when young, rests on frass suspended from leaves
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but not considered threatened

ADULT WINGSPAN
3 ⁄ –3¾ in (88–95 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2⅜–3 in (60–75 mm)
PYCINA ZAMBA
CLOUD-FOREST BEAUTY 275

DOUBLEDAY, [1849]

The Cloud-forest Beauty caterpillar, which is, unlike many
species, as deserving of its name as the adult, hatches from an
egg laid singly on the host plant. Ovipositing females dash at
breakneck speeds through the canopy, pausing momentarily
on the upper surfaces of large leaves to check for suitability,
sometimes returning multiple times to the same plant or even
the same leaf. Young larvae build and rest upon frass chains,
which, unlike those of most other chain-building species,
are constructed carefully to hang below the leaf rather than
projecting laterally from its margin. From oviposition to
eclosion, the life cycle (at least in Central America) lasts
43 to 45 days, with males apparently taking longer to complete
metamorphosis than females.

When disturbed, mature Cloud-forest Beauty larvae will rear
back and thrash at the offending intruder with their quite
formidable head scoli, and will attempt to bite with their
powerful mandibles. Although the spines of the caterpillar do
not deliver an urticating sting, the host plant often does,
something that likely also helps protect the caterpillar.

Actual size
The Cloud-forest Beauty caterpillar is complexly
patterned with swirls and stripes of brown on a
background of pale yellow and white, and with
splashes of crimson. It bears several rows of long,
branched scoli along its body, with several
additional rows on the thorax. The head is shiny
black and crowned with two short, stout scoli.