"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
Cherry Dagger
Acronicta hasta fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9229)
Host plant: Two individuals at different instars were found at this location and date – both on black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
Imperial Moth
Eacles imperialis fam. Saturniidae (Hodges#7704)
Host plant: Three individuals found at this date and location: 2-redbud (Cercis canadensis), 1-sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
The Hebrew
Polygrammate hebraeicum fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9285)
Host plant: black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: Common and specific names come from apparent resemblance of adult moth’s pattern to Hebrew characters. This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis fam. Nymphalidae (Hodges#4420)
Host plant: NA
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: Two individuals found at this date and location. One was found on sassafras and the other on redbud. Typical hostplants include elm and hackberry. One individual pupated in contained overnight, further suggesting that both were pre-pupal and collected on plants during wandering. This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
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.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 