Page 389 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Southeastern Mexico, south to eastern Peru, eastern Bolivia,
and Argentina
HABITAT Tropical forests
HOST PLANTS Unknown; in captivity has fed on Black Locust
(Robinia pseudoacacia) and willow (Salix spp.)
NOTE One of only two Citioica silkmoth species
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
2 –4⅛ in (52–106 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2⅜ in (60 mm)
CITIOICA ANTHONILIS
CITIOICA ANTHONILIS 387

(HERRICH-SCHÄFFER, 1854)

The tiny, black Citioica anthonilis caterpillar hatches from a
group of green eggs deposited on a leaf or stem about one week
previously. During the early instars, the larvae remain close
together, changing to green in the second instar, and acquiring
more color and complex design as they progress. During the fth

and nal instar, the caterpillar appears threatening, with many

long, spiky, silver tubercles, although these are soft and harmless

and cannot sting. After it has nished feeding, the caterpillar
burrows into the soil to pupate.

There are only two species of Citioica. Adults of both are
almost identical—thick bodied and plain brown with two
dark lines on the forewing. They belong to the large subfamily
Ceratocampinae, found only in the New World, most species The Citioica anthonilis caterpillar is mostly
grass green, darker blue green ventrally, with
feeding on leguminous trees. The caterpillars often host tiny a bold, black, longitudinal stripe passing through
parasitic wasps, which feed on the live caterpillar, killing it, the black, oval spiracles, bordered below by a
white stripe. The surface is smooth and hairless
and exit through the integument before spinning miniature with small, yellow bumps front and rear. Dorsally,
there are four long, pointed, silvery tubercles
cocoons to pupate. on most segments.

Actual size