Page 398 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Southwestern United States, Mexico, and Guatemala
HABITAT Thorn scrub, canyons, and foothills of desert mountain ranges
HOST PLANTS Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens),
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), and Mexican Jumping Bean
(Sapium biloculare)
NOTE Striking caterpillar whose cocoon is used as an ankle rattle
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but generally common

ADULT WINGSPAN
3⅛–4¼ in (80–110 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3–3⅛ in (75–80 mm)

EUPACKARDIA CALLETA
CALLETA SILKMOTH
396
(WESTWOOD, 1853)

Calleta Silkmoth caterpillars hatch from large, shiny, white
eggs, laid shortly after mating by the adult females, who place
them in masses on both surfaces of host plant leaves. First instar
caterpillars are black and gregarious but become more solitary
as they mature. Feeding takes place at leaf edges, and larvae
consume much foliage during development, which usually takes

four to ve weeks. Pupation occurs within a silk cocoon spun on
the host plant very close to the ground.

The Calleta Silkmoth caterpillar is variably Adults may develop in as little as eight weeks, or pupae may
turquoise, green, or pale blue with red and remain dormant for up to two years. There seem to be two
black transverse bands—actually a series of
closely spaced red and black protuberances generations annually, with the large, striking, black-winged
or eshy tubercles on each segment. The
apex of each tubercle is bright blue with adult moths appearing in spring and fall. Adults emerge in the
small black spines. The true legs are dark, evening and mate in daylight the following morning after males
while the prolegs are usually the same
color as the body, and the feet are tinged locate females by following a pheromone trail. The cocoons
with yellow.
of the Calleta Silkmoth are used as ankle rattles by Native
Americans during ceremonial dances. Eupackardia calleta is the
only species in its genus.

Actual size