Page 510 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION Southern Canada, from eastern Alberta east to Quebec,
south through United States to Florida, and west to Texas
HABITAT Deciduous woodlands near rivers and lakes
HOST PLANTS Cherry (Prunus spp.), poplar (Populus spp.), and willow
(Salix spp.)

NOTE Caterpillar defended by face-like pattern, agella, and
formic acid
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1–1 ⁄ in (25–40 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2–2⅜ in (50–60 mm)
CERURA SCITISCRIPTA
BLACK-ETCHED PROMINENT
508
WALKER, 1865

Black-etched Prominent caterpillars, like other related
prominents, hatch from eggs laid on the underside of host plant
leaves and may initially feed together. When resting, the larvae
are quite cryptic, but, like other members of their genus, it is their
appearance when threatened that has gained them notoriety.
As they raise and retract their head to face an opponent, the
thoracic region swells, exposing and emphasizing the red
coloration and two black eyespots, so that the caterpillar
resembles a face with an open mouth. Simultaneously, it raises
its “tail”—black flagella equipped with bright orange-red
extensions—and may also squirt formic acid.

While such defenses will not deter a predating Blackbird (Turdus

merula) or Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa), they seem e ective
against some parasitoids such as Cotesia wasps, which are
possibly repelled by scents stored in the agella. Nevertheless,

these larvae are not completely immune to parasitism. Mature
caterpillars pupate on a leaf or stem in a cocoon of silk and plant
tissue, and the adults y from March to October in one or two

generations depending on location. The genus Cerura comprises
20 species of moths that all have striking larvae.

The Black-etched Prominent caterpillar is
green with a white subspiracular stripe. The
head is beige with black, lateral, vertical stripes.
The last abdominal segment has extendable,
Actual size
black agella about half of the caterpillar’s
length, with orange-red tips everted when
the caterpillar is disturbed. The thorax bears
two white stripes dorsally, terminating in two
prominent, black spots in front. The rst
thoracic segment is colored pink dorsally.