Page 422 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Central Chile
HABITAT Forests, scrub, and hedgerows
HOST PLANTS Maytenus boaria, Cryptocarya rubra, and others
NOTE Singular, overwintering Hemileucinae caterpillar that has
deceptive, large, black “eyes”
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
2 ⁄ –3 ⁄ in (74–88 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3 in (75 mm)
POLYTHYSANA APOLLINA
POLYTHYSANA APOLLINA
420
R. FELDER & ROGENHOFER, 1874

The Polythysana apollina caterpillar is unlike those of other
genera of the Hemileucinae subfamily of giant silkmoths, in
both appearance and habits. It does not have large dorsal spines,
is not very urticating, and feeds independently, mostly at night.
It is not processionary, and after only five instars it spins a

large, u y, white, well-insulated cocoon. When prodded, the

caterpillar expands the dorsum of its rst and second segments

to reveal two large, black “eyes,” complete with small, white
“glints” surrounded by spiny “eyelashes,” which have evolved
as a defense to scare predators.

The Polythysana genus encompasses three species of brightly
colored moths with red eyespots, all but one con ned to Chile.

The adults emerge in March, Chile’s early fall, and adult males
of several species can be seen simultaneously, undulating here
and there over the low forest on warm, sunny days for less than
two hours around midday, searching for females by locating
pheromone trails. The resulting eggs develop slowly in the
coolness of the season.

The Polythysana apollina caterpillar is
pinkish gray with irregular, light ecks. Long,
feathery, branching spines curve downward
from the sides. The dorsum is smooth with
insigni cant rosettes of ino ensive spines
Actual size that are widely spaced. The head is hidden by
forward- attened spines. The rst and second
segments have dense, short, orange spines.