Page 407 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Central America (Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala)
HABITAT Medium to upper elevation cloud forests
HOST PLANTS Unknown; in captivity has fed on privet (Ligustrum spp.),
ash (Fraxinus spp.), and Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina)
NOTE Rare, dramatic-looking caterpillar found in tropical
cloud forests
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but likely vulnerable

ADULT WINGSPAN
3½–4 in (90–100 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3⅛–3½ in (80–90 mm)
LEUCANELLA HOSMERA
LEUCANELLA HOSMERA 405

(SCHAUS, 1941)

Little is known about the striking Leucanella hosmera, which lives
at high elevations in Central America. The caterpillars hatch
from shiny green, oval eggs, seemingly laid in clusters or batches
by female moths, and develop through six instars, with multiple
generations likely to occur year-round. They march about in
large groups throughout their development, feeding during
daylight hours, probably on many di erent kinds of trees and

bushes, although details of host plants are lacking.

The larvae advertise themselves with eye-catching, yellow

and white spines, set o against a black background, openly
challenging predators to take a mouthful. Those that are tempted
discover to their cost something distasteful and likely stinging.
Pupation takes place within a tough, brown cocoon, probably
attached to the host trees near the ground. The genus Leucanella
contains nearly 30 species with similar-looking caterpillars,
including L. viridescens, a voracious, polyphagous eater that
can be an economic pest of some crops.

The Leucanella hosmera caterpillar
is black with striking starbursts of
yellow and white spines. There are
six starbursts on each segment,
the majority yellow, but with some
colored white or pink on the anterior
three and posterior two segments.
The black body is covered with
minute, white dots. The head,
true legs, and prolegs are black.

Actual size