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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Moths » Noctuoidea » Tiger Moths (Arctiidae) » Tiger Moths (Arctiinae) » Euchromiini » Empyreuma » Spotted Oleander Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8272 (Empyreuma affinis)
Photo#75011
Caterpillar that needs identified - Empyreuma affinis
Copyright © 2006 Angela Hughes

Caterpillar that needs identified - Empyreuma affinis
Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA
September 4, 2006
my son found this outside and I was hoping we could keep it alive long enough to see it metamorphasize. Could someone please identify so we know what to feed it? I gave it some plants near where we found it but don't know if they're right or not.

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Caterpillar that needs identified - Empyreuma affinis Caterpillar that needs identified - Empyreuma affinis
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Contributed by Angela Hughes on 4 September, 2006 - 11:38am
Last updated 5 September, 2006 - 8:34pm

We're thinking
Spotted Oleander Caterpillar, Empyreuma affinis, though we expect it to be hairier! Images and info in the guide here. Wagner says, not surprisingly, if we are correct, that it feeds on Oleander! Hannah will have had more experience with this species, so she may have more to tell you.
… john and jane balaban, 4 September, 2006 - 12:03pm login or register to post comments

 
spotted oleander
I think you're right! We just went out to the pool and we found dozens more of these critters on - you guessed it - pink oleander! Im going out now to take another pic. The ones we found were hairier than this one. Will this turn into a butterfly? How do we care for them? Thanks so much!!! I love this site!
… Angela Hughes, 4 September, 2006 - 1:19pm login or register to post comments

 
I agree
Empyreuma affinis. Syntomeida, which also feeds on Oleander in FL, doesn't have those white spots. If you want to try raising some, I wrote an article here. They definitely pupate above ground (I have found cocoons of Syntomeida, a close relative, on my house) so if you can provide an suitable enclosure it should be quite easy.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 5 September, 2006 - 9:47am login or register to post comments

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