mothsinflorida

Saltmarsh Caterpillar

The saltmarsh caterpillar (Estigmene acrea) (Drury) is a native insect found throughout the United States. It is common in the southern United States as a pest. Adults are large moths; wingspan can measure 3.5 to 4.5 cm and are very distinct. The wings are mostly white in color; there are generally many small, irregular black spots. The male hind wings are yellow, the underside may also have a yellow tint, and the female is white. The abdominal segments are yellow with a series of large black spots dorsally.
Females generally live only four to five days; however, they can produce more than one cluster of eggs. She can produce 400 to 1000 eggs in one or more clusters. Eggs are tiny and spherical; they are initially yellow and soon turn gray in color. Eggs will hatch in four to five days. There are five to seven instars.
Larvae are active dispersers, a behavior not typical among caterpillars. Late instar larvae will move over the soil searching for food and can be found individually or in groups. Caterpillars damage crops, mostly during fall. With each succeeding instar consumption of plants doubles. When pupation occurs, they are on the soil among leaf debris. When pupation is complete, it is dark brown, measuring 30 mm, and lasts about 12 to 14 days.
Broadleaf weeds are the initial host plants for this species, though larvae will commonly disperse late in the growing season to damage vegetable and field crops. The favored weed host are usually pigweed (Amaranthus spp.); however, many others can be consumed, such as anglepod (Gonolobus spp.).; sicklepod (Cassia tora); dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium); ground cherry (Physalis spp.); and mallow, (Anoda spp.).
Agricultural management commonly used insecticides on saltmarsh caterpillars. Baits are not an effective method to manage the species. Physical barriers can be used such as ditches or trenches with steep sides to prevent the invasion of crops.
Cool Fact! Saltmarsh caterpillar’s name is derived from being a pest of Saltgrass hay grown around Boston. Though ironically, grasses are not a preferred host plant.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Southern Pearly Eye

The Southern Pearly Eye (Lethe portlandia) has a wingspan of 2¼ – 2¾ inches. The antennal club (the tip and thickest part of the antenna) is orange. As caterpillars, they are green or brown with thin, light stripes, two short tails, and two reddish horns on green heads. As chrysalis (pupa) they are little green pendants that often dangle from a host plant stem. Their host plants are Canes (Arundenaria spp.). They are most active on cloudy days and at dusk.
Cool Fact: Cocoons and chrysalis are often used interchangeably when discussing moths and butterflies, but they are two completely different things! Moths form cocoons, whereas butterflies form chrysalis.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Webworm Moth

– Webworm Moth –
The Ailanthus Webworm (Atteva aurea) adults are considered good pollinators. The host plant, Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a non-native plant in Florida that the Ailanthus Webworm will use for laying eggs. Caterpillars will emerge and feed on the leaves. This species also use two native Florida plants. Both are Paradise Trees, Simarouba glauca, and Simarouba amara.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Luna Moth

Luna Moth
The adult Luna moth, Actias luna (Linnaeus), can be found every month of the year in Florida’s forests. They range from southern Canada to Florida and as far west as Texas. This large green moth has a wing span of 3–4¼ inches.
The luna moth lays eggs, and the caterpillars are bright green. Host plants include sweet gum, sumacs, hickories, persimmon, and plants in the walnut family. The adult moth cannot eat and only lives long enough to mate, and lay eggs. You will be lucky if you encounter one of these beautiful moths while sauntering through the woods.
Fun Fact: The Luna moth appeared on a first-class United States postage stamp issued in 1987.
Photo Credit: Andy Waldo
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Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth

The Scarlet-bodied wasp moth, Cosmosoma myrodora, is a stunning moth found throughout Florida and coastal areas in the southeastern U.S. Males have filament containing pouches on the abdomen called flocculence. During mating the male will hover over the female and discharge the flocculence, creating a net over her before attempting to mate. These flocculence’s are a visible white.
The larvae emerge from the eggs appearing as tiny white hair-covered caterpillars. These hairs are called setae and help form the cocoon. Cocoons are constructed under leaves and are mesh-like balls. Larvae feed on native hempvines.
Adult males feed on dogfennel and pass the toxin, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, obtained from the plant to females during courtship as a way to protect eggs from predation. Some parasites are still able to get past these defenses. These include Hyphantrophaga sellersi and Tetrastichinae parasitoids.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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Polyphemus Moth

The Polyphemus moth, Antheraea polyphemus, is a giant silk moth that can be found from Mexico to southern Canada and in every US state except Nevada and Arizona. The moth’s wingspan measures 4 – 6 inches. Colors vary and include gray, tan, and brown with shades of red, yellow, and pink. Polyphemus moths have large eyespots on their hind wings and were named after Polyphemus, the giant cyclops from Greek mythology with a large eye in the middle of his forehead. The male’s (pink pictured) antennae are bushier than the female’s (tan pictured) antennae.
 
Females produce 2 broods each year. In Florida, newly emerged Polyphemus moths can be found year-round. Because of their vestigial mouthparts, they cannot eat. A newly emerged female will release a pheromone to attract a male. The dating game lasts throughout the night with the most activity a few hours before sunrise. The pair will remain coupled all day before separating at sunset. For the next several nights, the female will lay single eggs in groups of two or three on a leaf of an oak tree or other desirable host tree.
 
Look for these moths near man-made light sources. Of concern is the Polyphemus moth’s attraction to mercury vapor lights that may distract them from mating, thus impacting their populations in cities and neighborhoods. (Worth and Muller 1979)
 
Photo Credit: David Gale (pink)
Photo Credit: Erin James (tan)
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