Page 377 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION The Philippines
HABITAT Tropical and subtropical forests
HOST PLANTS Many, including lilac (Syringa spp.), willow (Salix spp.),
and plum (Prunus spp.)
NOTE Large caterpillar of one of the largest giant silkmoths
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but limited range

ADULT WINGSPAN
Up to 9⅞ in (250 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
4⅝ in (120 mm)
ATTACUS CAESAR
CAESAR ATLAS SILKMOTH 375

MAASEN & WEYMER, 1873

The caterpillar of the Caesar Atlas Silkmoth is large and eats
many leaves every day, so a small tree cannot support more
than one or two without attracting hungry birds or insect
parasites. The caterpillar has a defensive ability to spray the
enzyme tyrosinase from glands in its integument, which inhibits
predators; it is also covered with powdery wax that could give
it some protection. If a small tree is completely defoliated,

the caterpillar moves to another tree. After the fth instar, the
caterpillar spins an immense papery, silk cocoon.

The Caesar Atlas Silkmoth caterpillar is blue
There are more than a dozen species of Atlas silkmoths in and greenish blue fading to white dorsally, with
many small, round, blue dots. Short horns on
Asia and the Malay Archipelago. Closely related and similar, the dorsum are white, the spiracles are red with
but smaller, species occur mostly in tropical climates in Asia, a white border, and a white, waxy dust lightly
covers all. The head is blue, and the claspers
Africa, and the Americas. The caterpillars of some species are have a large, blackish area.
colorful and ornate, and all spin silk cocoons. Ancestors of
these related species probably dispersed before the continents
had drifted apart.

Actual size