Tag: Caney Mountain Conservation Area

Mating Harvestmen

macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

During a WGNSS Entomology Group trip in September of last year, we were thrilled to come across a mating pair of Leiobunum vittatum (eastern harvestmen) at Caney Mountain Conservation Area. In some of the photos below, you can see the male handing off his prenuptial gift to the female. Prenuptial gifts are produced by the males and consist of a mix of essential amino acids. Mating behaviors in harvestmen are complex and vary wildly between taxa. Unfortunately, these guys were among thick scrub that made for difficult photography. I tried my best to capture some of this behavior.

First look at mating eastern harvestmen. Smaller male at back/left.
A closer look shows what I presume to be a prenuptial gift being handed off to the female at front/right.
Another look at mating embrace of Leiobunum vittatum (eastern harvestmen).

2025 Caterpillar Season – Humped Oakworm

2025 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Humped Oakworm Moth
Symmerista sp. fam. Notodontidae
Host plant(s): Found on oak (Quercus sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 18 September, 2025 – Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO; 27-September, 2025 – Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, MO
Notes: Caterpillars of S. canicosta (red-humped oakworm) and S. albifrons (white-headed prominent) are indistinguishable as larvae and are so similar as adults that the only way to distinguish the two is by dissecting the genitalia. Both species are found in Missouri and both feed on the same host plants – beech, chestnut and oaks (any members of the Fagaceae).

2025 Caterpillar Season – Crowned Slug Moth

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

Crowned Slug Moth
Isa textula fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4681)
Host plant(s): Found on sassafras, northern red oak, redbud
Date(s) and location(s): 31 August, 19-September, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 27 September, 2025 – Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, MO
Notes: By far the most numerous Limacodid I found in 2025.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Giant Leopard Moth

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

Giant Leopard Moth
Hypercompe scribonia fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8146)
Host plant(s): younger instar – white vervain (Verbena urticifolia); final instar – wandering
Date(s) and location(s): 30 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 27 September, 2025 – Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, MO
Notes: This spiney species contains no venom. Other than some minor prickling, these can be handled without worry. This is a highly polyphagous species, feeding on several families of woody plants and forbs. Caterpillars of this species overwinter and will pupate the following spring.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Drab Prominent

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

Drab Prominent
Misogada unicolor fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#7974)
Host plant(s): sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Date(s) and location(s): 23, 30 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 27 Sep, 2025 – Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, MO
Notes: The drab prominent is the only species in the monotypic genus Misogada. Named for the relatively plain looking adult, the caterpillar of this species in anything but drab. In addition to sycamore, this species also hosts on cottonwood.