Page 523 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION From Afghanistan southeast through northern India and Nepal to
southern China and Chinese Taipei, and Southeast Asia to Borneo
HABITAT Low- and medium-altitude montane forests
HOST PLANTS Various, including members of Fagaceae
NOTE Caterpillar that has a cryptic body posture and multiple horns
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but its life history is largely unknown

ADULT WINGSPAN
2–2 ⁄ in (50–62 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1¾ in (40–45 mm)
HARPYIA MICROSTICTA
HARPYIA MICROSTICTA 521

(SWINHOE, 1892)

Harpyia microsticta caterpillars are gargoyle-like in appearance
with a horned head capsule, thoracic and abdominal horns and
spines, and an expanded, angular tail segment. The anal claspers
are absent, in contrast to the larvae of other genera of prominent
moths, where the claspers can be present or modi ed into taillike

structures. Later instar caterpillars feed on one half of the leaf
only, progressively advancing along the stripped midrib to the

tip. When alarmed, they raise their tail end and atten their head
against the substrate, making them look like a ragged leaf edge
with exposed brown vein ends.

The adult moths are easily recognizable by their salt-and-pepper
speckled markings and distinct black triangle on the forewing
leading edge. Three recognized subspecies (formerly separate The Harpyia microsticta caterpillar is green
species) occur across the expansive range—Harpyia microsticta with a saddle mid-body in shades of brown.
There are brown, twin-pronged horns along the
microsticta, H. microsticta baibarana, and H. microsticta dicyma. dorsal midline, the largest being closest to the
The genus Harpyia, including members with similar adult and head and curving toward the rear. The claspers
are absent, leaving four pairs of prolegs, and the
larval morphology, is represented in Europe, northern Africa, rear segment is a swollen wedge shape topped
with a forward-pointing bi d horn. The large,
and in Asia as far north as southeast Russia. brown, rectangular head capsule has squat,
blunt horns.

Actual size