"What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked." -Aldo Leopold
Today’s caterpillar is an interesting species from an obscure family – Thyrididae, or window-winged moths. Pseudothyris sepulchralis (mournful thyris) is sharp looking as a caterpillar as well as an adult moth. This species is a specialist on greenbriers (Smilax sp.) and this individual was found rolled in a Smilax leaf about head-high at Kaintuck Hollow in Phelps County, MO in mid-July.
Today’s featured caterpillar is the Noctuid, Ogdoconta cinereola, or “common pinkband groundling.” This one was found in early July at St. Francois State Park on wingstem (Verbesina).
Tonight’s caterpillar is a member of the Crambidae family – Saucrobotys futilalis, or the “dogbane saucrobotys moth.” The host for this species is the namesake dogbane (Apocynum species) and they can also feed on milkweeds (Asclepias species). I found these pretty easy to find in mid to late July at Don Robinson State Park by simply looking for their web nests within dogbane plants. There were usually several cats within each nest and a little beating of the plants could get quite a few tumbling out.
I find the Latin binomial for this one to be pretty entertaining. Saucro, coming from the Greek for graceful, pretty and beauty, along with botys, the genus to which this moth was originally ascribed. While, on the other hand, the specific futilalis seems to come from the Latin futilis, meaning brittle, vain, or worthless. Taxonomic nomenclature can be confusing and is often steeped in history (this species was described in 1863), but I find this grouping to be pretty entertaining.
I’m pleased to say I found a “holy grail” caterpillar species this year. Unfortunately, at the time, I did not know what I had found. On July 13th, while searching right off a parking lot at Huzzah Conservation Area in Crawford County, MO, I found this smallish bird poop mimic caterpillar. I knew I had seen this one in photos before, but on this day I had left my field guides at home and I was in an area with absolutely no cell phone coverage.
After getting back home, I identified this as a member of the Noctuidae family – Acronicta funeralis, aka the paddle caterpillar. It gets its common name from the paired paddlelike subdorsal setae that are present on the final instar of the caterpillar. I really wish I had known what I had found at the time. I would have brought this guy home to rear in order to get photos of the final instar of this cat. This species is rare enough that it might be the one and only that I find, but I think if I try hard enough, others will come in time.
Today’s cat is in the Pyralidae family. It is most likely Pococera expandens (double-humped pococera moth), but with at least 27 species in this genus and many of which that feed on oak, upon which this one was found, other species could be an option. This guy was photographed in early July during a WGNSS Nature Photography field trip at Prairie Garden Trust in Calloway County, MO.
Today’s caterpillar is an interesting Saturniid – Anisota virginiensis (pink-striped oakworm moth). The stunning adults of this species are diurnal flyers and like most members of the family, do not feed. This individual was found on Quercus stellata (post oak) in late June of this year at Young Conservation Area.
I posted about the hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis) caterpillar last month. Today’s cat is also found on hackberry (Celtis sp.) trees, but are far less common. Here is the tawny emperor (A. clyton) photographed at Shaw Nature Reserve in July.
A couple of friends and I went to visit some sand and gravel hill prairies in central Illinois yesterday. Although it is a delight to visit those places and their unique floral communities, we didn’t find a lot to make us pull out the cameras. We took a short break from walking through the prairies in near perfect weather for an August day and did a little cat hunting in the nearby Sand Ridge State Forest. Along with some hungry mosquitos we happened across this cute little one feeding on a species of red oak. This is the silk moth Antheraea polyphemus. This species is among the largest caterpillars to be found in our area, but this guy was pretty tiny. I believe this is a 2nd instar.
Today’s cat is the variegated midget (Elaphria versicolor #9678) in the Noctuidae Family. This species seems to be very polyphagous. Most literature suggests they prefer conifers but many have been found on deciduous perennials and even forb species. They also appear to be somewhat carnivorous, with reports of eating other caterpillars. The individual pictured here was found during July feeding on greenbrier (Smilax sp.) at Huzzah Conservation Area in Crawford County, MO.
Today’s cat is the southern tussock moth (Dasychira meridionalis #8298) in the Family Erebidae. This one was found feeding on hickory (Carya sp.) in July at Meramec State Park in Franklin County, MO. This species seems to prefer oaks but can be found on a variety of deciduous woody species. Members of Dasychira exhibit variable patterns and coloration and seem to vary geographically.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 