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Tussock Moth ID?
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Tussock Moths - Family Lymantriidae
The Lymantrid Caterpillars are hairy, often with four distinct tussocks of hair on their back make them look like a toothbrush. The hair can cause irritation if contact. The Caterpillars pupate in a woven cocoon under bark or foliage. The pupa usually covered with larval hairs as well. These hairs can cause problems if touched, or if they are released to blow about.
It is probably fair to say that the larvae are more interesting, and certainly more colourful, than the adult moths, which in this family are small to medium size with hairy body. Adults are short lived, mouth parts are poorly developed and do not feed. They held their board wings like roots over their abdomen at rest. They usually active at night. In some species the females are wingless.
"Lymantria" means "defiler", and several species are important defoliators of forest trees, including the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar, the douglas-fir tussock moth Orgyia pseudotsugata, and the nun moth Lymantria monacha. They tend to have broader host plant ranges than most Lepidoptera. Most feed on trees and shrubs, but some are known from vines, herbs, grasses and lichens.
The specimen illustrated here is from Sulawesi, Indonesia. I am uncertain of the exact species and would appreciate any leads you may be able to give. However, I think mit is necessary to be a real specialist in this group, as they are so abundant in SE Asia. There is a very good website here about Lymantids from Borneo alone and Holloway lists 297 species for the whole island. Unfortunately his pictures show only adult males, so identifying the caterpillar is not possible from there.
Anyway, regardless of its identification, I hope you enjoy the shapes and colours. |
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- Maite
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 981 W: 64 N: 1196]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4926) - [2008-01-19 3:42]
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WOW!! That's a curious caterpilar, yes sir! It has a punky look with those hairs. It is really amazing a shot. It would be very interesting to know the species, but who knows? I hope you find it.
My compliments and best regards.
Greetings
Maite
