Category: insects

2026 Caterpillar Season – Bicolored Honey Locust Moth

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

Bicolored Honey Locust Moth
Syssphinx bicolor (Harris, 1841) P-no. 890024, fam. Saturniidae
Host plant(s): Found on honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Date(s) found: 3 July, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: The caterpillar of Syssphinx bicolor can be confused with that of S. bisecta (bisected honey locust moth) that also occurs in Missouri. However, S. bisecta typically does not exhibit the magenta coloration in the thoracic horns and lacks red coloration in the subspiracular lateral stripe. These two species are among the few Lepidoptera species known to host on Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus).

Penultimate instar larvae of Syssphinx bicolor
Ultimate instar larvae of Syssphinx bicolor
Syssphinx bicolor adult reared from larvae pictured above.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Harvey’s Prominent

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Harvey’s Prominent
Litodonta hydromeli (Harvey, 1876) P-no. 930060, fam. Notodontidae
Host plant(s): Found on gum bumelia (Sideroxylon lanuginosum)
Date(s) found: 20 June, 2026
Locations found: Victoria Glade Conservation Area
Notes: I know I’ve shared this species on a number of occasions, like here, here, and here, but I can’t get enough of these fascinating little ones. Based on the antler-like prothoracic scoli and integument coloration and pattern, I believe these two, found during a WGNSS trip, are a third and second instar.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Snowberry Clearwing

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

Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis (Boisduval, 1836) P-no. 890204.5, fam. Sphingidae
Host plant: Found on both bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Dates found: 9 May, 2026; 27 June, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, Carter County, MO
Notes: This species seems to be able to host on any honeysuckle species found in Missouri, both native and exotic. There are not a lot of reasons for the modern ecologist to celebrate, but it genuinely brings me cheer when finding these caterpillars feeding on invasive bush honeysuckle and Japanese honeysuckle.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Abbott’s Sphinx

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

Abbott’s Sphinx
Sphecodina abbottii (Swainson, 1821)P-no. 890192, fam. Sphingidae
Host plant: Found on wild grape (Vitus sp.)
Dates found: 27 June, 2026
Locations found: Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, Carter County, MO
Notes: The ultimate instar presents an eerie, hyper-realistic “eyespot” complete with an iris, pupil, and even a white catchlight reflection. Along with the scale-like pattern, it becomes an apt snake mimic. If a predator comes too close, the caterpillar will lash, squeak, and try to bite its attacker. While this larval form makes a great interpretation of a snake, the diurnal adult phase makes a great bee mimic, including yellow patches on its hind wings. When at rest, the moth folds in its hind wings, leaving it perfectly camouflaged against the bark of a tree.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Distinct Quaker

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

Distinct Quaker
Achatia distincta (Hübner, 1813) P-no. 932800, fam. Noctuidae
Host plant: Found on Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana)
Dates found: 24 May, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This common noctuid larvae can be found in April and May. This is a univoltine species, and the adults are early fliers. This species spends most of its life cycle in the cocoon.

2026 Caterpillar Season – The Betrothed

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

The Betrothed
Catocala innubens (Guenée, 1852) P-no. 930761, fam. Erebidae
Host plant: honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Dates found: 6 June, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: With more than 60 species documented in Missouri, the Catocala are common moths in our state. Despite this fact, this was my first time finding a caterpillar in this genus. Special efforts are needed to find them. They are strictly nocturnal feeders, spending the daylight hours hidden in bark crevices or even climbing all the way down their host tree’s trunk to spend the day in the leaf litter or in nearby herbaceous vegetation. Early instars can be found by beating tree limbs. Later instars can be found by searching at night. A more advanced technique involves using burlap “traps” wrapped around tree trunks. When the caterpillars move up or down, they may stay in the burlap flaps allowing you to check for them during the day. C. innubens is a specialist on honey locust.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Grote’s Sallow

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

Grote’s Sallow
Copivaleria grotei (Morrison, 1874) P-no. 931557, fam. Noctuidae
Host plant: green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Dates found: 2 May, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Copivaleria grotei is classified within a monotypic genus, meaning it is the sole member found in the genus Copivaleria. But it is not alone among many lepidopterans that specialize on ash trees or use ash trees as one of their preferred hosts. These species are at risk in Missouri due to the destruction of millions of ash trees by the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).

2026 Caterpillar Season – Eastern Tailed-blue

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

Eastern tailed-blue
Cupido comyntas (Godart, 1824) P-no. 77a0638, fam. Lycaenidae
Host plant: Found on wild indigo (Baptisia sp.)
Dates found: 20 June, 2026
Locations found: Victoria Glade Conservation Area, Jefferson County, MO
Notes: A tiny, beautiful, and common butterfly that is often seen in suburban backyards, the eastern tailed-blue (ETB for short) is not a caterpillar that I have had luck in finding. Finally, on an outing with the WGNSS’ Nature Photography Group in June, I found one of these on a wild indigo plant within the glade. I never expected a lycaenid caterpillar to be such a challenging photo subject. This guy was healthy and mobile, rarely settling down to get the desired photo.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Double-toothed Prominent

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

Double-toothed Prominent
Nerice bidentata (Walker, 1855) P-no. 930018, fam. Notodontidae
Host plant: Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Dates found: 24 May, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A master of camouflage. The double-toothed dorsal keel and the oblique subdorsal lines matching the leaf veins do a great job in blending into the leaf on which they feed and breaking up the form of a caterpillar.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Ashen Pinion

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

Ashen Pinion
Lithophane antennata (Walker, 1858) P-no. 932577, fam. Noctuidae
Host plant: Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Dates found: 2 May, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This species is noteworthy for a couple of interesting natural history stories. First, this is a rare case of a lepidopteran that overwinters as an adult. Larvae of this species are also known to be cannibalistic, feeding on other caterpillars in addition to the leaves of their host plant. Check out this amazing video showing the predatory behavior of one of these caterpillars: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=941240722582546