Category: insects

2026 Caterpillar Season – Spotted Apatelodes

2026 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Spotted Apatelodes
Apatelodes torrefacta (J.E. Smith, 1797), fam. Apatelodidae, P-no. 890001
Host plants: Highly polyphagous. Documented feeding primarily on woody species in 18 plant families. I have found these most often on redbud (Cercis canadensis), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum).
Date found(s): August 22; September 6, 2026
Location(s) found: Meramec State Park, Franklin County, MO; Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Large, covered in long setae with long, black middorsal “lashes.” Shorter urticating setae are found underneath that can deliver stings. Come in two “flavors:” lemon chiffon, or frosty white. Also look for the diagnostic red abdominal prolegs. This species shows up regularly on late summer or early autumn caterpillar hunts. This is likely due to their large size, bright color, and the habit of resting conspicuously on the leaves on which they feed.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Brown-hooded Owlet

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Brown-hooded Owlet
Cucullia convexipennis (Grote & Robinson, 1868), fam. Noctuidae, P-no. 931513
Host plants: Specialist hosting on goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and other Asteraceae family members.
Date found(s): September 12, 2026
Location(s) found: Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Notes: Due to the apparent lack of high concentrations of toxins in their hostplants that are sequestered by many lepidopterans for defense, the aposematic coloration exhibited by the brown-hooded owlet is potentially a case of Batesian mimicry. Although the specific model species has not been identified, caterpillars and other insects use yellow, black, red, and white color combinations to advertise their toxicity.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth
Datana ministra (Drury, 1773), fam. Notodontidae, P-no. 930033
Host plants: The recorded hosts are a wide variety of woody species in 15 plant families.
Date found(s): August 22, 2026
Location(s) found: Meramec State Park, Franklin County, MO
Notes: The yellow-necked caterpillar, like most Datana, go through several color phases as they develop. Early instars are reddish -brown to green. Mid-instars become striped but may be considerably different colors than the final instar. Although Datana caterpillars may be easy to identify at most stages, getting them to species is usually best accomplished with final instars.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Afflicted Dagger

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Afflicted Dagger
Acronicta afflicta (Grote, 1864), fam. Noctuidae, P-no. 931419.77
Host plants: Feeds principally on oaks (Quercus spp.). Also reported on gum trees (Nyssa spp.).
Date found(s): September 17, 2026
Location(s) found: St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A visually similar and closely related species, Acronicta brumosa (charred dagger), has a single record (1913) from Missouri in the Heitzman database. The charred dagger is a more southerly species but does have more modern records from Arkansas, Oklahoma and southern Illinois. Larvae of the charred dagger can be distinguished from A. afflicta by the presence of two pairs of paddle-shaped dorsal setae per segment.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Agreeable Tiger Moth

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, wildlife, wildlife photography

Agreeable Tiger Moth
Spilosoma congrua (Walker, 1855), fam. Erebidae, P-no. 930309
Host plants: Recorded hosting on a variety of herbaceous plants in five plant families but likely feeds on more than these. Recorded hosts include members of the Asteraceae (e.g., dandelion), Amaranthaceae (e.g., pigweed), Plantaginaceae (e.g., plantain), Polygonaceae (e.g., smartweed), and has been recorded feeding on bracket polypore fungus (Trichaptum biforme).
Date found(s): August 15, 22, 2026
Location(s) found: Meramec State park, Franklin County, MO; Loggers Lake, Shannon County, MO
Notes: The agreeable tiger moth sequesters bitter plant toxins called iridoid glycosides from their hosts to dissuade predators. It is unclear why Walker used the specific epithet congrua in his original description of this species. However, in the same year, Walker also described a closely related species—Spilosoma dubia, the “dubious tiger moth,” (not yet recorded in Missouri) showing that historic entomologists were not without humor.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Black-etched Prominent—Redux

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

I shared photos of the black-etched prominent a few weeks ago. Since then, I was able to photograph this ultimate instar that we found at Young Conservation Area in Jefferson County, Missouri.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Turbulent Phosphila

wildlife, macro, wildlife photography, insects, Lepidoptera, 2026 Caterpillar Season

Turbulent Phosphila
Phosphila turbulenta (Hübner, 1818), fam. Noctuidae, P-no. 932208
Host plants: Feeds only on greenbrier (Smilax spp.)
Date found(s): September 7, 2026
Location(s) found: Franklin County, MO
Notes: Despite their apparent warning coloration and their conspicuous nature of often feeding on top of their host’s leaves in broad daylight, it is unknown if turbulent phosphila caterpillars are protected from predators via chemical sequestration. They may simply be mimics, taking advantage of predator’s avoidance of black and white prey animals.

I found the group of gregarious early instars in southern Minnesota in June. Many thanks to Eva Wiedeman for finding and letting me photograph the later instar pictured here.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Dusky Groundling

wildlife, macro, wildlife photography, insects, Lepidoptera, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, 2026 Caterpillar Season

Dusky Groundling
Condica vecors (Guenée, 1852), fam. Noctuidae, P-no. 931995
Host plants: Hosts on a variety of Asteraceae family members, seemingly especially fond of boneset (Eupatorium spp.).
Date found(s): September 7, 2026
Location(s) found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Caterpillars of this species spend their days blending in on the undersides of their host leaves. They are much more active and more easily found feeding at night.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Yellowhorns

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Yellowhorns
Colocasia flavicornis (Smith, 1884) P-no. 931400; Colocasia propinquilinea (Grote, 1873) P-no. 931401; fam. Noctuidae
Host plants: In Missouri, I have found these on river birch (Betula nigra) and ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana). They have been recorded on other woody species, including oak, walnut, and elm.
Date found(s): September 7, 2026
Location(s) found: Ste Genevieve County, MO
Notes: The first couple of times I found Colocasia caterpillars I was confused. At first glance, these look to be young, weird versions of a Halysidota or other tufted caterpillars. Pay close attention to lash placement to distinguish these from other fuzzy potentials.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Black-spotted Prominent

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Black-spotted Prominent
Dasylophia anguina (J.E.Smith, 1797), fam. Notodontidae, P-no. 930133
Host plants: Feeds on mostly herbaceous members of the Fabaceae family but can be found on locust trees and Amorpha shrubs.
Date found(s): September 7, 2026
Location(s) found: Franklin County, MO
Notes: An alternative form of the black-spotted prominent can be found that replaces the lavenders and oranges with greens and blues. Many thanks to Eva Wiedeman for finding this one and letting me photograph it!