Page 306 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Limacodidae
DISTRIBUTION Eastern United States, from Missouri to the Atlantic coast
HABITAT Forests
HOST PLANTS Beech (Fagus spp.), hickory (Carya spp.), oak (Quercus spp.),
chestnut (Castanea spp.), and hornbeam (Carpinus spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar with a sting that can cause mild skin irritation
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common

ADULT WINGSPAN
⅝–1⅛ in (16–29 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
¾–1 ⁄ in (20–30 mm)
NATADA NASONI
NASON’S SLUG MOTH
304
(GROTE, 1876)

The Nason’s Slug Moth caterpillar hatches from an egg laid
individually on the host plant and is initially non-feeding,
molting into its second instar without growth. Larger larvae
are probably well defended from vertebrate predators by their
toxins. In humans, inadvertent contact with the caterpillar causes
Actual size
a sting, which, while of relatively low intensity, causes pain and
can produce a rash, or blistering. Their toxins, however, do not
make the larvae immune to attacks by parasitoids, such as the
braconid Triraphis discoideus. In the late stages of development,
the caterpillar makes a dense cocoon inside which it diapauses
until spring, when it pupates. Adults y in midsummer.

Slug caterpillars, including those of the Nason’s Slug Moth, have
unusual locomotion in which their highly elastic underbelly

The Nason’s Slug Moth caterpillar is green, moves in wavelike pulses, aided by a semi uid silk that sticks
with a thin, yellow subdorsal stripe on both sides,
each with a row of orange verrucae equipped to smooth-leaved food plants. This may be why, while being
with stinging spines. The latter are larger in the
thoracic and nal abdominal segments. Another generalist feeders, Natada nasoni larvae are not often found on
row of verrucae defend the caterpillar laterally. plants that have hairs on the leaf surface. There are about 1,500
The caterpillar is short and stout, at ventrally
and convex dorsally, and has vestigial prolegs. species of slug moths worldwide.