Page 520 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION Northeast India, southern China, Chinese Taipei, and mainland
Southeast Asia
HABITAT Lower-altitude montane forests
HOST PLANTS Fagaceae, including chinkapin (Castanopsis spp.) and oak
(Quercus spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar that has elaborate reticulate markings and
disruptive patterns
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but not uncommon

ADULT WINGSPAN
1¾–2⅛ in (45–55 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1¾ in (45 mm)
FENTONIA BAIBARANA
FENTONIA BAIBARANA
518
MATSUMURA, 1929

The Fentonia baibarana caterpillar is unornamented and
smooth with well-developed anal claspers, in contrast to other
notodontid prominent moth larvae, which can be grotesquely
shaped, with an absurd posture, and may lack the claspers. The
F. baibarana larvae pupate in the soil in a loose, silken cocoon.
Actual size The species has two or three generations during the spring and
summer months, from April to the end of October, with the
nal generation of the year overwintering as pupae to re-emerge

around late March the following year.

Although the caterpillars are intricately patterned with bold
The Fentonia baibarana caterpillar has
reddish-brown, abdominal, reticulate, striate geometric markings and bright colors, they remain remarkably
markings, like a network of veins, originating di cult to see among foliage. They represent a classic example

from the dorsal midline on a paler fawn base.
The head is disproportionately large with similar of disruptive patterning and coloration, whereby their body
striate markings. From the mid-abdominal markings create false edges and boundaries, thus disguising their
segments caudally, there are a series of bright
yellow spots on a dark brown dorsal stripe. outline and shape. In contrast, the adult moth is drab and cryptic,
The thoracic segments are green on their

lateral aspect. although well camou aged against tree bark or leaf litter.