Page 415 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION From Turkey east across much of Asia
HABITAT Mountains at 3,300–9,850 ft (1,000–3,000 m) elevation,
foothills, and orchards
HOST PLANTS Spiraea (Spiraea spp.), pear (Pyrus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.),
willow (Salix spp.), and cherry (Prunus spp.)
NOTE Tree-feeding, lethargic caterpillar that lives in cool climates
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
3⅛–4⅛ in (80–105 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3⅛ in (80 mm)
NEORIS HUTTONI
NEORIS HUTTONI 413

MOORE, 1862

Neoris huttoni females live no longer than three days as adults
and die within 24 hours of laying their large— ⁄ in (2 mm)—
oblong, olive-green eggs in neat strings of up to 15 on host
plant twigs. The eggs overwinter, hatching in early spring. The
caterpillars are lethargic feeders, working from beneath leaves,
and are easily disturbed, even by rain. Development takes up to
two months, and caterpillars descend to the ground to pupate,
with pupation taking place in a creamy-white to reddish-brown
cocoon among debris and leaves on the ground.

Most adults emerge from mid to late afternoon in late summer The Neoris huttoni caterpillar is pinkish black
and early fall, with females calling for males that same night. or green grayish in color, and profusely covered
with short and long, silver-white hairs. There
Pairing takes place just after dark and lasts for only a few hours. is a broad, interrupted, yellow-orange stripe
Both males and females are rapid yers, attracted to light and mid-laterally, below which the body is darker

than above. The spiracles are prominent,
also very cold tolerant, with adults readily flying in frosty orange, and lined with black. The head, true
legs, and prolegs are black.
weather. There are a number of Neoris huttoni subspecies, which
some authors consider to be distinct species.

Actual size