Page 396 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Guiano-Amazonian region, from Venezuela and Colombia
to Bolivia
HABITAT Tropical forests
HOST PLANTS Unknown in the wild; in captivity has fed on Laurel Sumac
(Malosma laurina)
NOTE Giant silkmoth caterpillar that has an unexpected sting
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
3 –5 in (88–149 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3¾ in (95 mm)
EACLES BARNESI
EACLES BARNESI
394
SCHAUS, 1905

When the Eacles barnesi caterpillar hatches from its transparent
egg, it is black with narrow, yellow lines across the dorsum and
four long, black horns behind the head. In the second instar
it becomes dark pink. In the laboratory the caterpillars feed
rapaciously upon Laurel Sumac for about one month before
digging into the soil to pupate. Unlike most members of its
family, if molested this caterpillar can in ict a painful and itchy

The Eacles barnesi caterpillar is dark pink sting by erecting the nettle-like, red hairs usually hidden in
with small, dark bumps and eight bluish horns cavities on the dorsum.
behind the head. The spiracles are white slits in
a blackish sandwich. Reddish stinging hairs on
the dorsum are normally hidden, and there is a
prominent, thin, dark dorsal stripe. The clasper The Eacles barnesi moth is similar in size and shape to its
is blackish with a large, warty, pale patch. cousin, the Imperial Moth (E. imperialis) of North and South
America. There are 19 species of Eacles moths, mostly in
South America, and many have colorful caterpillars. They are
usually easy to rear and, like most giant silkmoths, are sought
by hobbyists and nature students wishing to observe their
metamorphosis from egg to adult.

Actual size