Crowned Slug Moth
Isa textula fam. Limacodidae
Host plant: Found on sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Dates found: 5, Oct, 2024
Locations Found: Daniel Boone Conservation Area, Warren County, MO
Notes: I was getting a bit tired of simply shooting slug moth caterpillars from the typical overhead viewpoint that is often seen with these “flatter” species. In this image I used the Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L macro lens along with a 36mm extension tube. This allowed me to change the plane of focus in order to get the entire animal with acceptable depth of field despite the angle I shot it with and get the magnification and detail I wanted. It isn’t necessarily the most pleasing image compositionally, but I have used this approach with several slow moving slug moth caterpillars this season and I am liking this technique.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 