Page 357 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Brahmaeidae
DISTRIBUTION Nepal, Bhutan, southwest China, northern India, northern
Myanmar, Thailand, and Japan
HABITAT Temperate and tropical forests
HOST PLANTS Ash (Fraxinus spp.) and privet (Ligustrum spp.)
NOTE Large and distinctive caterpillar that rears up when threatened
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
3½–6⅜ in (90–160 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3½ in (90 mm)
BRAHMAEA WALLICHII
OWL MOTH 355

GRAY, 1831

The caterpillars of the Owl Moth hatch from large, creamy-
white eggs between 10 and 14 days after they are laid on the
underside of leaves of the host plant. The young larvae have

four long, black laments on the thorax and three on the tail of
the abdomen. These all disappear after the third molt. When
threatened, a caterpillar rears up into a threatening posture The Owl Moth caterpillar has eye-catching
to deter would-be predators. Pupation takes place when the coloration. The body is white with lateral stripes
of black and yellow and spiracles ringed in black
caterpillars move to the ground, creeping under stones or fallen and white. The head and thorax have a reticulate
leaves and into other moist places. The black pupa overwinters pattern of yellow, green, and black with white
spots. The legs and prolegs are black and blue.
and ecloses in spring.

Brahmaea wallichii is one of the largest of the owl moths.

A night yer, it rests during the day on tree trunks or on the
ground, its wing pattern of dark and light browns providing
perfect camou age. Two generations of moths appear each year,

the rst in April to May and the second in August.

Actual size