Bicolored Honey Locust Moth
Syssphinx bicolor (Harris, 1841) P-no. 890024, fam. Saturniidae
Host plant(s): Found on honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Date(s) found: 3 July, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: The caterpillar of Syssphinx bicolor can be confused with that of S. bisecta (bisected honey locust moth) that also occurs in Missouri. However, S. bisecta typically does not exhibit the magenta coloration in the thoracic horns and lacks red coloration in the subspiracular lateral stripe. These two species are among the few Lepidoptera species known to host on Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus).
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 