Page 395 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Only known from two small areas in Guerrero (Mexico) and
Zacapa (Guatemala)
HABITAT Mountainous tropical forests
HOST PLANTS Unknown in the wild; in captivity has fed on oak (Quercus spp.)
NOTE Giant silkmoth species that has an intriguing geographical range
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
2 –3 in (59–93 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2⅜ in (60 mm)
DIRPHIOPSIS WOLFEI
DIRPHIOPSIS WOLFEI 393

LEMAIRE, 1992

The Dirphiopsis wolfei silkmoth caterpillar hatches among tightly
grouped, yellow eggs and soon sets o , following pheromone-

laced web trails, to join other siblings that are searching for an
acceptable feeding spot. It is initially yellow with a black head
and black spines. By the fourth instar the caterpillar is reddish
brown with white stripes and blue and reddish spines, and in the
nal fth and sixth instars it is mostly green. Pupation occurs on

the ground under leaf litter and involves very little silk. The Dirphiopsis wolfei caterpillar is green
with a broad, reddish-brown spiracular band
bordered with white. The spiracles are orange,
Laboratory-reared caterpillars of Dirphiopsis wolfei have the head and true legs are reddish, and the feet
appeared nervous and hesitant, feeding reluctantly on oak. of the prolegs are black with tiny, white dots.
Lateral spines are mostly blue, and dorsal spines
Of many hatched eggs, few have survived to adulthood. are pale reddish. The dorsum and spiracular
band are covered with white ligree.
In the wild, the species’ unusual range is intriguing because of
the great distance between the two known populations—more
than 700 miles (1,100 km). Dirphiopsis wolfei is one of 18, mostly
South American, species within its genus and a member of the
huge Hemileucinae subfamily of stinging caterpillars.

Actual size