Category: Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center

2025 Caterpillar Season – Double-lined Prominent

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Double-lined Prominent
Lochmaeus bilineata fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#7999)
Host plant: Found on elm (Ulmus sp.)
Date found: 23, August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Technically, I should label this one as Lochmaeus sp. because L. bilineata and L. manteo (variable oakleaf caterpillar) cannot be distinguished as larvae. However, host plants are a good indicator. Lochmaeus bilineata prefers elms and basswood, while L. manteo prefers oaks. It is unclear whether reports of L. bilineata from oaks are from erroneously identified L. manteo or not.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Gray-edged Hypena

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Gray-edged Hypena
Hypena madefactalis fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8447)
Host plant: Found on black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Date found: 09, September, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A specialist on black walnut, this species has also been reared on shagbark hickory (Carya ovata).

2025 Caterpillar Season – Ailanthus Webworm

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Ailanthus Webworm Moth
Atteva aurea fam. Attevidae (Hodges#2401)
Host plant: Found on tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Date found: 30, August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: It is currently unclear whether Atteva aurea is native to the southeastern U.S. where corkwood and other members of Simaroubaceae are found and then expanded its range into Missouri following the introduction of the tree of heaven, or if it was introduced from China.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Greater Oak Dagger Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Greater Oak Dagger Moth
Acronicta lobeliae fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9238)
Host plant: Found on red oak species (Quercus sp.)
Date found: 30, Aug, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This poor guy has a couple tachinid fly eggs attached. It was likely host to this parasitoid and will not make it to adulthood.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Gold Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Gold Moth
Basilodes pepita fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9781)
Host plant(s): Found on wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)
Date(s) and location(s): 13 September, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A specialist on Verbesina species.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Virginian Tiger Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Virginian Tiger Moth
Spilosoma virginica fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8137)
Host plant(s): Found on wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) and black willow (Silax nigra)
Date(s) and location(s): 13 September, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 17-September, 2025 – Little Creve Coeur Ecological Area
Notes: Also referred to as the yellow wooly bear, this species is highly polyphagous.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Unicorn Caterpillar Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Unicorn Caterpillar Moth
Coelodasys unicornis fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#8007)
Host plant(s): redbud, hackberry, willow
Date(s) and location(s): 30 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 06 September 2025 – Babler State Park, St. Louis County, MO; 15-September, 2025 – Creve Coeur Lake Park, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Previous to this year, I assumed this species was an oak/hickory specialist. This is obviously not the case. This species is polyphagous and I was surprised at how many I found on willows this year. Look closely at the upper right photo in this gallery for signs that this individual was parasitized.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Red-crossed Button Slug Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Red-crossed Button Slug
Tortricidia pallida fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4653)
Host plant(s): Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Click here to see adult.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Waved Sphinx

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Waved Sphinx
Ceratomia undulosa fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7787)
Host plant(s): Found on hickory (Carya sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This is one of those perplexing situations. Wagner and most other authorities suggest this species hosts solely on ash (Fraxinus), but I found this guy actively feeding on a mid-sized hickory during an evening hunt.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Milkweed Tussock Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Milkweed Tussock Moth
Euchaetes egle fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8238)
Host plant(s): Found on dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum)
Date(s) and location(s): 30 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO