Page 561 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION Northeastern Ecuador to southeastern Peru
HABITAT Forest and montane stream edges

HOST PLANTS Barnadesia parvi ora, Adenostemma harlingii, Browallia speciosa,
and Solanum spp.
NOTE Caterpillar with urticating hairs that can cause an itchy rash
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but not considered threatened, although
not common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1½–1¾ in (38–44 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2⅛–2¾ in (55–70 mm)
HYPERCOMPE OBSCURA
HYPERCOMPE OBSCURA 559

(SCHAUS, 1901)

Hypercompe obscura caterpillars are solitary feeders and,
although they live on a wide variety of host plants, not common.
The larvae can be found on almost any portion of the host plant,
but they frequently rest along the midvein on the underside of
the leaf. When disturbed, they tend to drop down from the plant

and curl up into a ball, ourishing their long, urticating setae.
When at rest, these caterpillars are positioned with their tufts
of setae held in close proximity, giving them the appearance of
being completely covered in hairs. When feeding or moving,
however, they expose the bare intersegmental areas, presumably
making themselves more vulnerable to attack by parasitoids The Hypercompe obscura caterpillar has a
than while at rest. When the larvae are handled, their setae tend uniformly shiny, dark brown to black head and
a robust, dark brown body. A wash of pale gray

to break o and cause skin irritation—especially between the gives it a frosted appearance. The mid-length,

ngers. The adult is one of many boldly marked members of reddish-brown, sti setae are arranged into
distinct rings along the length of the body, and
the genus Hypercompe, a trait that makes “tiger moth” an apt the posterior segments also bear a few sparse,
long, soft, pale setae emanating from subdorsal
name for this and related genera. and lateral verrucae.

Actual size