"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
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.
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).
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.
Pink-striped Oakworm Moth
Anisota virginiensis fam. Saturniidae (Hodges#7723)
Host plant: Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Date found: 19, Sep, 2025
Location found: Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Notes: Photos of an early instar larvae.
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.
Birch Dagger Moth
Acronicta betulae fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9208)
Host plant(s): river birch (Betula nigra)
Date(s) and location(s): 15 September, 2025 – Creve Coeur Lake Park, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A specialist, hosting only on river birch.
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.
Wooly Bear
Pyrrharctia isabella fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8129)
Host plant(s): Found wandering
Date(s) and location(s): 08 November, 2025 – Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles County, MO
Notes: Perhaps the most widely known caterpillar by the general public, the wooly bear is known as the Isabella tiger moth in its adult form. The caterpillars are often found crossing paths and roads during autumn, for reasons not fully understood. This species is highly polyphagous, eating a variety of trees, forbs and grasses. I chose some season-appropriate plants (Callicarpa americana & Euonymus americanus) from the backyard to photograph this caterpillar exploring.
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.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 
