Page 309 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Limacodidae
DISTRIBUTION Oriental tropics, from western India southeast to Borneo,
east to Chinese Taipei
HABITAT Low to medium altitude forests
HOST PLANTS Many, including banana (Musa spp.), Wood-oil Tree (Aleurites
cordata), Green Tea (Camellia sinensis), Teak (Tectona grandis),
and Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera)
NOTE “Stinging nettle” slug caterpillar that has a lavender streak
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common

ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–1⅝ in (35–42 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 in (25 mm)
PARASA PASTORALIS
PARASA PASTORALIS 307

BUTLER, 1885

Like other cup moth (or slug moth) caterpillars, Parasa pastoralis
larvae characteristically move in a fluid, sluglike, peristaltic
fashion, as they do not have the de ned prolegs seen in most

other caterpillars. Instead, they rely on an adhesive, muscular
underbelly. Although they are polyphagous, their mode of
locomotion restricts their choice of host plants to those with Actual size
smooth-surfaced foliage. As early instars, caterpillars graze
only from the outer layer of the leaf but progress to full-leaf
consumption in middle to late instars. At this time, the larva The Parasa pastoralis caterpillar has four rows

feeds from the leaf margin with its head retracted beneath eshy of spiny tubercles running the length of its green
body. The anterior dorsal pair is the largest
thoracic folds, concealing the movement of mouthparts from cluster. Its spines are orange, and the central
potential predators. few are markedly thicker and black-tipped.
There are four black patches on the posterior
segments, a vivid purple stripe outlined in
black along the back, and wave-shaped
As a “stinging nettle” species of limacodid caterpillar, the larva markings along the sides.
has both sharp, hollow spines, which inject a toxin from glands
at the spine base, and urticating hairs and needlelike spicules,
which break o on contact. Parasa pastoralis overwinters in a

cocoon, and adults y from March to November. The moths

have the distinctive green forewings of the Parasa genus, with
a brown basal spot and margins.