Page 567 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and likely Peru
HABITAT Humid montane forest borders, pastures, and river edges
HOST PLANTS Many, most commonly Boehmeria bullata, B. caudate, B. pavoni,
and B. ulmifolia; also species of several other families, including
Poaceae and Fabaceae
NOTE Uniquely shaped caterpillar that is highly polyphagous
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but not considered threatened

ADULT WINGSPAN
1¾–2 ⁄ in (44–52 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2 ⁄ –2 ⁄ in (52–58 mm)
LOPHOCAMPA ATRICEPS
LOPHOCAMPA ATRICEPS 565

(HAMPSON, 1901)

Lophocampa atriceps caterpillars feed in groups until the third
instar, moving to separate leaves or plants to feed solitarily in
later instars. Although the highly polyphagous caterpillar has
been reared a number of times and has an extensive geographical
distribution, its complete life cycle has not been described,
and little is known of its natural enemies. Like other species in
its cloud forest habitat, however, it likely has many parasitoid
and other enemies. When disturbed, the larvae raise their
posterior-most abdominal segments and wiggle them back
and forth like a dog’s tail, perhaps brandishing this tuft of hairs
to potential predators.

In shape, the somewhat singular caterpillar is elongate, tapering
sharply behind the head, and slightly swollen around the
first abdominal segments, giving it a partially humpbacked The Lophocampa atriceps caterpillar has a
shiny, black head and velvety, black body, the
appearance. Two erect, at-topped tufts of setae, one forward latter covered with ne, bright, white ecking

and one rearward, further add to the larva’s strange silhouette. and speckling, as well as with sparse, long,
soft, nely plumose white setae. The dorsum
The hairs of these tufts are mildly irritating to the skin, but the of the third thoracic segment to the seventh
remaining soft, white setae appear to be non-urticating. and eighth abdominal segments bears dense
clusters of erect, black setae.

Actual size