Page 420 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Mexico, south to Brazil and Bolivia
HABITAT Dry to humid tropical forests and savannahs
HOST PLANTS Various trees, including oak (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus spp.),
hawthorn (Crataegus spp), plum (Prunus spp.), palm
(Elaeis spp.), and Acacia spp.
NOTE Stinging caterpillar of moth that ecloses smelling like
rotting onions
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
3¾–4⅝ in (95–120 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2¾–4 in (70–100 mm)
PERIPHOBA HIRCIA
PERIPHOBA HIRCIA
418
(CRAMER, 1775)

Periphoba hircia caterpillars hatch from about 200 ovoid eggs
laid by the female moth in straight-line pairs along host plant
leaves. Hatching occurs around two to three weeks after
ovipositing, depending on temperature. Early instar caterpillars
are gregarious and processionary, feeding and resting in groups.
By the fourth instar, caterpillars disperse and feed singly at night,
resting by day. There are six instars, the larvae taking about
53 days to reach the pupal stage. After wandering for a day,
full-fed caterpillars form a cocoon on the ground under debris.

The spines of this caterpillar can cause a painful sting lasting

for a number of hours. Newly emerged adult moths give o a
pervading and persistent odor of rotting onions. Females use
pheromones to call males for mating, and both sexes live for
less than a week. Occasionally, Periphoba hircia larvae cause
economic damage to oil palm plantations.

Actual size

The Periphoba hircia caterpillar is blue
green dorsally and light green ventrally.
Its spiracles are orange, and the prolegs are
translucent green. The anal segment and
prolegs are outlined in pink. The body is
densely covered with small, green spines.