"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
What a treat I had recently! Chris Brown invited me over to photograph a male Promethea silkmoth (Cephalanthus occidentalis) that had just eclosed. This was one that he had reared from one of the caterpillars I shared here last year. This guy was super cooperative with us and was a pleasure to photograph. Thanks Chris!
Today I’m featuring two fantastic tussock moths. Although these two are distinctive as larvae, the adults are indistinguishable without genital dissection.
Banded Tussock Moth
Halysidota tessellaris F. Erebidae
Host plant: Found on hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Date found: 19, Aug, 2024
Location Found: Huzzah Conservation Area, Crawford County, MO
Sycamore Tussock Moth
Halysidota harrisii F. Erebidae
Host plant: Found on sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Date found: 22, Aug, 2024
Location Found: Washington State Park, Washington County, MO
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 