"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
Pandora Sphinx
Eumorpha pandorus fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7859)
Host plant: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: During its final instar, this sphinx caterpillar loses its horn and is replaced with a button (not pictured). This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis astyanax fam. Nymphalidae (Hodges#4522)
Host plant: Found on black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Date found: 02, Aug, 2025
Location found: Trail of Tears State Park, Lincoln County, MO
Notes: Three caterpillars of this species were found at this date and location.
Here is another case of very similar caterpillars between two closely related species. The first clue to identity should be the host plant. In our region, Limenitis arthemis astyanax host primarily on black cherry (Prunus serotina), while Limenitis archippus (Viceroy) host primarily on willows (Salix sp.).
Caterpillars of L. arthemis astyanax are visually similar to those of , L. archippus although adults of these two species are very dissimilar. However, there are visual cues that can be used to tell them apart. Caterpillars of L. arthemis astyanax are generally less spiny, the humps over dorsum at A2 are larger and the “antlers” are more clubbed than the viceroy.
Brown Panopoda
Panopoda carneicosta fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8588)
Host plant: Found on hickory (Carya sp.)
Date found: 09, 16, 23 Aug, 2025
Location found: BK Leach Conservation Area, Lincoln County, MO; Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO; Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: With information I have, there appears to be no easy methods to discern between larvae of Panopoda carneicosta and P. rufimargo (red-lined panopoda). However, there is suppose to be distinct differences in host preferences, with P. carneicosta showing strong preferences for hickory and other members of Juglandaceae, while P. rufimardo reportedly feed on oak and beech (Fagaceae). My identification is based on the host plants on which the cats were found.
Red-humped Caterpillar Moth
Oedemasia concinna fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#8010)
Host plant: Found on redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: Shown in defensive posture with tail raised above its head. This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
Virginia Creeper/Hog Sphinx
Darapsa myron fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7885)
Host plant: Six individuals were found on this date and location: grape (Vitis sp.)-5, Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)-1
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: This one showing the autumn/pre-pupal warm/brown coloration. All other individuals found were green. This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
Small Necklace Moth
Hypsoropha hormos fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8528)
Host plant: eastern persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Date found: 02 & 09, Aug, 2025
Location found: Trail of Tears State Park, Cape Girardeau County & BK Leach Conservation Area, Lincoln County, MO
Notes: Both common and specific names (hormos – Greek for ‘a chain’) refer to the necklace-like pattern of dots across the postmedial line of the adult moth.
Splendid Radcliffe’s Dagger
Acronicta superans radcliffei fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9226)
Host plant: black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Date found: ~09, Aug, 2025
Location found: Cuivre River State Park, Lincoln County, MO
Notes: Edit 2/Jan/2026. Science is learning and correcting our mistakes when possible. There have been no confirmed collections of A. superans in MO per Heitzman’s catalogue. The larva of A. superans looks quite similar to the penultimate instar of A. radcliffei, which I now believe this larvae should be labeled as. The primary differences are that A. superans will have black snowflaking on the head, whereas A. radcliffei will have this patterning in red. Another potential option is A. hasta, but I think less likely. All three are cherry/rose specialists. That said, it would not be out of the question for A. superans to be found in Missouri. If any who may have found this post has reason to disagree with my determination, I’d appreciate hearing from you.
Saddleback
Acharia stimulea fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4700)
Host plant: Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Date found: ~02, Aug, 2025
Location found: Trail of Tears State park, Cape Girardeau County, MO
Notes: Three caterpillars were found at this date and location. One was found on pawpaw (Asimina triloba) and two on sassafras (Sassafras albidum).
Harris’s Three-spot
Harrisimemna trisignata fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9286)
Host plant: buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Date found: ~16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Franklin County, MO
Click here to see the adult moth
Notes: Part spider and part bird dropping, this caterpillar is absolutely astounding. Note the empty head capsules that the caterpillar retains with each successive molt. It has been shown that these caterpillars use these to thrash at potential parasitoid wasps and flies that approach while attempting to deposit eggs on their would-be hosts.
Special thanks to Eva Wiedeman who found this individual in her neighborhood and brought it to our WGNSS fieldtrip at Council Bluff Lake. Photographing this caterpillar was a prime objective for me this season. Now I just need to find one on my own and hopefully a larger 4th instar!
Greater Oak Dagger Moth
Acronicta lobeliae fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9238)
Host plant: Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Date found: 09, Aug, 2025
Location found: Cuivre River State Park, Lincoln County, MO
Notes: Our second largest dagger moth species, the erroneously named A. lobeliae is a specialist feeder on oaks.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 
