Here are some of my favorites from a couple trips to a new-to-me Short-eared Owl location in southeastern Illinois.
A New Season for Shorties
Author: Ceibatree
2025 Caterpillar Season – Herpetogramma Webworms
Tonight’s caterpillars are a few nondescript species of Herpetogramma (Family Crambidae) typically referred to as webworms. Most Herpetogramma feed on grasses, but the individuals I found this year feed on dicots or ferns. These guys are leaftiers that can be found easily by looking for the leaf shelters that they tie together with silk. So far I have been unable to find known associations between these species and hosts, nor visual characteristics that help to identify these larvae to species. Please let me know if you can enlighten me.
This species was found in considerable numbers at Tyson Research Center in August and were hosting on wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia).
The next species is really special as it represents one of the very few species of Lepidoptera that feed on ferns.
This next one was found at Loggers Lake in July. We found this on an unrecorded aster in a simple folder leaf shelter.
A Case of Caterpillar Carnage
From 2024. I came across this female salticid (Paraphidippus aurantius) that had made a meal from a caterpillar of this white-marked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma).
2025 Caterpillar Season – Sycamore Tussock Moth
Sycamore Tussock Moth
Halysidota harrisii fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8204)
Host plant: Found on sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Dates found: 23 August, 2025
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A specialist that feeds solely on sycamore.
2025 Caterpillar Season – Polyphemus Moth
Polyphemus Moth
Antheraea polyphemus fam. Saturniidae (Hodges#7757)
Host plant: Found on red oak species (Quercus sp.)
Dates found: 30 August, 2025
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: While the caterpillars are polyphagous, feeding on a variety of woody species, adults of this moth do not feed.
2025 Caterpillar Season – Twin-spotted Sphinx
Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth
Smerinthus jamaicensis fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7821)
Host plants: Found on black willow (Salix nigra)
Dates found: 15 September, 2025
Locations found: Little Creve Coeur Ecological Area, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This species prefers willows and poplars but can be found on other woody species.
2025 Caterpillar Season – Bumelia Leafworm Moth
Bumelia Leafworm Moth
Enaemia pupula fam. Lacturidae (Hodges#8011)
Host plant: Found on gum bumelia (Sideroxylon lanuginosum)
Dates found: 3 October, 2025
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A specialist that feeds only on Sideroxylon species. In Missouri, it is only found on gum bumelia.
2025 Caterpillar Season – Black-blotched Prominent
Black-blotched Prominent Moth
Oedemasia leptinoides fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#8011)
Host plants: Found on hickories (Carya sp)
Dates found: 6, 27 September, 2025
Locations found: Babler State Park, St. Louis County, MO; Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, MO
Notes: Note the seven tachinid fly eggs on the individual on left side below. Individuals infested with these endoparasitoids are doomed and will not make it to the adult stage.
2025 Caterpillar Season – Stinging Rose Caterpillar
Stinging Rose Caterpillar Moth
Parasa indetermina fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4699)
Host plant: Found on sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Date found: 31 August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: One of our larger limacodids, this species caterpillars can be up to 2.5 cm long.
2025 Caterpillar Season – Yellow-collared Slug
Yellow-collared Slug Moth
Apoda y-inversum fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4667)
Host plant: Found on black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Date found: 31 August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: These photos show a mid-instar caterpillar with stinging setae that are absent in final instars.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 