"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
Polyphemus Moth
Antheraea polyphemus fam. Saturniidae (Hodges#7757)
Host plant: Found on red oak species (Quercus sp.)
Dates found: 30 August, 2025
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: While the caterpillars are polyphagous, feeding on a variety of woody species, adults of this moth do not feed.
Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth
Smerinthus jamaicensis fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7821)
Host plants: Found on black willow (Salix nigra)
Dates found: 15 September, 2025
Locations found: Little Creve Coeur Ecological Area, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This species prefers willows and poplars but can be found on other woody species.
Bumelia Leafworm Moth
Enaemia pupula fam. Lacturidae (Hodges#8011)
Host plant: Found on gum bumelia (Sideroxylon lanuginosum)
Dates found: 3 October, 2025
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A specialist that feeds only on Sideroxylon species. In Missouri, it is only found on gum bumelia.
Black-blotched Prominent Moth
Oedemasia leptinoides fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#8011)
Host plants: Found on hickories (Carya sp)
Dates found: 6, 27 September, 2025
Locations found: Babler State Park, St. Louis County, MO; Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, MO
Notes: Note the seven tachinid fly eggs on the individual on left side below. Individuals infested with these endoparasitoids are doomed and will not make it to the adult stage.
Stinging Rose Caterpillar Moth
Parasa indetermina fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4699)
Host plant: Found on sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Date found: 31 August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: One of our larger limacodids, this species caterpillars can be up to 2.5 cm long.
Yellow-collared Slug Moth
Apoda y-inversum fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4667)
Host plant: Found on black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Date found: 31 August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: These photos show a mid-instar caterpillar with stinging setae that are absent in final instars.
Salt Marsh Moth
Estigmene acrea fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8131)
Host plant: Found on New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Date found: 11 November, 2025
Location found: Weldon Spring Interpretive Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Feeds on a wide variety of herbaceous plants.
American Dagger Moth
Acronicta americana fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9200)
Host plant: Found on redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Date found: 31 August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A highly polyphagous species recorded hosting on woody plant species in 16 families.
Walnut Sphinx
Amorpha juglandis fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7827)
Host plant: Found on hickory (Carya sp.)
Date found: 6, 13, September, 2025
Location found: Babler State Park, Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This is the only species of this genus in North America.
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.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 