"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
Ruddy Dagger Moth
Acronicta rubricoma fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9199)
Host plant(s): hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Date(s) and location(s): 07 Sep, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Also known to host on elm and sumac.
Shagreened Slug Moth
Apoda biguttata fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4669)
Host plant(s): pin oak (Quercus palustris), red oak (Quercus sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 19 Sep, 2025 – Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Notes: Like most of the limacodids seem to be, this species can be found in a wide variety of habitats and utilize nearly any native woody plant for hosts.
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.
The Laugher
Charadra deridens fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9189)
Host plant(s): chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Date(s) and location(s): 13 Sep, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: My first find of a caterpillar of this species.
Streaked Dagger Moth
Acronicta lithospila fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9266)
Host plant(s): red oak (Quercus sp.), shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria)
Date(s) and location(s): 30 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 6 Sep, 2025 – Babler State Park, St. Louis County, MO; 13 Sep, 2025 – Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Notes: This species host primarily on Fagaceae (oaks, beech) and is stunning in both larval and adult forms.
Banded Tussock Moth
Halysidota tessellaris fam. Erebidae (Hodges#8203)
Host plant(s): Three individuals found at this date and location, all found on hickory (Carya sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 23 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A very common and highly polyphagous species. The attractive adults are usually found during blacklighting nights.
Saddled Prominent
Cecrita guttivitta fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#7994)
Host plant(s): Found on hickory (Carya sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 30 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A highly polyphagous species, known to feed on a wide variety of woody plants across many families.
Imperial Moth
Eacles imperialis fam. Saturniidae (Hodges#7704)
Host plant(s): Found on sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Date(s) and location(s): 16 Aug, 2025 – Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO; 25 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A wide-ranging species distributed across the Americas from Argentina to Canada.
Tulip Tree Beauty
Epimecis hortaria fam. Geometridae (Hodges#6599)
Host plant(s): Found on sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Date(s) and location(s): 23, 25 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Other commonly used hosts include poplars and tulip trees.
Georgian Prominent
Paraeschra georgica fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#7917)
Host plant: Found on red oak (Quercus sp.)
Date found: 30, Aug, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This is the first from a series of caterpillars I will be sharing from a new survey project that will document the caterpillars of Tyson Research Center.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 