Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Flannel, Slug Caterpillar, Leaf Skeletonizer Moths and kin (Zygaenoidea) » Slug Caterpillar Moths (Limacodidae) » Acharia » Saddleback Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#4700 (Acharia stimulea)

Species Acharia stimulea - Saddleback Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#4700

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth - Acharia stimulea - male

Saddleback caterpillar - Acharia stimulea

Acharia stimulea - #4700 - Acharia stimulea

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Zygaenoidea (Flannel, Slug Caterpillar, Leaf Skeletonizer Moths and kin)

Family Limacodidae (Slug Caterpillar Moths)

Genus Acharia

Species stimulea (Saddleback Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#4700)

Hodges Number

4700

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

formerly Sibine stimulea

Numbers

Caterpillar more commonly encountered than the moth

Size

Caterpillar grows to 25mm (1)

Wingspan 26-43mm (2)

Identification

Caterpillar has a distinctive green saddle on a black to brown base. The saddle has a central brown patch and is bordered with white. Lobes on the front and rear bear stinging spines. Clusters of spines also line the sides.

Moth dark brown with wings shaded in black and charcoal. Forewing with one white dot near base and a few near the apex.

The male moth (below) has a flared abdomen:

Range

Massachusetts south to Florida and west to eastern Missouri and Texas (2). Also found in Mexico and Central America, and possibly in Colombia.

Season

Caterpillar seen July to October (3)

Moth flies June to August in the North stretching to almost the entire year in the extreme South (4)

Food

Many trees, shrubs, and grasses including apple, asters, blueberries, citrus, corn, dogwoods, elms, grapes, linden, maples, oaks, Prunus species, sunflowers and viburnums (2). Troy has personally seen them feeding on liriope, cherry, oak, and holly.

Life Cycle

Young instar caterpillars are somewhat gregarious.

Remarks

Formerly Sibine stimulea.

Caterpillars are capable of inflicting lasting and painful stings with their spines.

Internet References

MPG

Caterpillars of Eastern Forests - Photo and info on the caterpillar

Ohio State University Extension, University of Vermont Extension, and University of Florida Extension describe various stinging caterpillars including this one and provide treatment information.

University of Florida

Naturalista. Oruga ensillada (Acharia stimulea)

Works Cited

1.	Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars of North America Amy Bartlett Wright. 1998. Houghton Mifflin Company.

2.	Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company.

3.	Caterpillars of Eastern Forests

4.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, Jason D. Roberts, Blocky
Last updated 18 November, 2019 - 11:46pm

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