Page 385 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Eastern United States into Canada
HABITAT Deciduous woodlands
HOST PLANTS Deciduous trees and bushes, including apple (Malus spp.),
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), cherry (Prunus spp.), poplar
(Populus spp.), and Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
NOTE Caterpillar that is known for making a perfectly

camou aged cocoon
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but one of the more common Saturniidae species

ADULT WINGSPAN
3–3⅜ in (75–85 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2–2⅜ in (50–60 mm)
CALLOSAMIA PROMETHEA
PROMETHEA MOTH 383

(DRURY, 1773)

Promethea Moth caterpillars hatch from a cluster of 2 to 12
small, white eggs usually laid in rows on host plants in late spring
or early summer. Initially the larvae feed in small groups but
become solitary when they reach later instars. This species is
single brooded in the north of its range and can have two or
more broods in the south. When threatened, the caterpillars
regurgitate their food onto themselves to become less palatable
to predators. Each of the ve instars look di erent, and in later The Promethea Moth caterpillar is very pale

instars a clear “smiley face” can be seen on the posterior end, with colors ranging from white to a light bluish
green. The thoracic segments feature four red
right above the claspers. protuberances (which may also be orange),
and there is a single, yellow protuberance on
the eighth abdominal segment. The rest of the
The cocoons are tightly wrapped in a leaf of the food plant and body has short, black protuberances.
attached by a strong peduncle. When the leaves drop in the fall,
the cocoons remain, looking exactly like a dead leaf. The adult
male moth, which ies in the late afternoon, mimics the Pipevine

Swallowtail (Battus philenor), which is poisonous. The females
look like small Cecropia Moths (Hyalophora cecropia).

Actual size