Page 539 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World
P. 539
MOTH CATERPILLARS
FAMILY Erebidae
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION The Andes of Colombia and Ecuador
DIS
DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT
A
HABITAT T Humid montane forests and forest borders
HABIT
HOST PLANTS S Erato polymnioides and Miconia spp.
T PLANT
HOS
HOST PLANTS
NO
NOTE
NOTE Caterpillar with setae that break o and cause skin irritation
TE
TUS
T
TION S
A
A
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but not considered threatened
CONSERV
CONSERVATION STATUS
ADULT WINGSPAN
2 ⁄ –3 ⁄ in (65–77 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2⅜–2¾ in (60–70 mm)
AMASTUS AMBROSIA
AMASTUS AMBROSIA 537
(DRUCE, 1890)
The robust Amastus ambrosia caterpillar is found as a solitary
individual on its host plant, and it is not known how many eggs
the adult lays in a single batch. The caterpillar is covered in
brown, hairlike setae and, prior to pupation, creates a cocoon
of these hairs around its pupa, presumably providing good
protection from predators. At least one bird, the Fawn-breasted
Tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota), however, has been observed
to consume the spiky larvae. The caterpillar’s bright crimson
spiracles on an otherwise dark-colored body might be a form
of warning coloration, although they are mostly obscured from
view by setae.
When disturbed, larger individuals tend to thrash about wildly, The Amastus ambrosia caterpillar has a
while smaller ones drop quickly from the host plant to the ground reddish-brown head, and its body’s ground
color is dull gray brown with mostly indistinct,
below. The caterpillar’s setae can break o when handled and cream-colored and black markings. It bears
cause considerable skin irritation. Until recently, the subspecies moderately dense, short, sti setae that are
reddish brown at their base, dark centrally on
pictured here (Amastus ambrosia thermidora, Hampson, 1920) the shaft, and with red-brown tips. Its true legs
are black, and its prolegs are similar in color
was considered a full species. to the body but with darker pads.
Actual size
