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Species Lymire edwardsii - Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270

Moth? - Lymire edwardsii Pygarctia sp? - Lymire edwardsii Unknown Parasitized Caterpillar (Braconids, maybe?) - Lymire edwardsii Edwards' Wasp Moth final Instar Larva Making its Cocoon - Lymire edwardsii Edwards' Wasp Moth final Instar Larva Making its Cocoon - Lymire edwardsii Edwards' Wasp Moth - Lymire edwardsii - male Unknown Caterpillar  - Lymire edwardsii Caterpillar  - Lymire edwardsii
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 Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Erebidae
Subfamily Arctiinae (Tiger and Lichen Moths)
Tribe Arctiini (Tiger Moths)
Subtribe Euchromiina
Genus Lymire
Species edwardsii (Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270)
Hodges Number
8270
Other Common Names
Rubber Tree Caterpillar Moth
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Lymire edwardsii (Grote, 1881)
Scepsis edwardsii Grote, 1881
* phylogenetic sequence #930443
Explanation of Names
Specific epithet edwardsii in honor of Henry Edwards, who collected the first specimens.
Size
Wingspan about 30-40 mm.
Identification
Adult - wings and thorax are bluish gray. The abdomen is blue dorsally and white ventrally. The prothorax and head are orange-yellow ventrally. Dorsally and laterally the posterior portion of the head and anterior margin of the prothorax are orange-yellow. The antennae are pectinate.
Food
As far as known, the caterpillars feed only on various species of Ficus plants.
Life Cycle
Life cycle images:
larva; larva; larva making cocoon; cocoon with pupa; cocoon; adult
Remarks
When touched, the larva flip from the leaf and drop to the ground on silken threads.(1)
This species is usually destructive on shade or ornamental trees.(1)
Print References
Grote, A.R. 1881. Description of four new species of moths. Papilio 1(1): 4
Works Cited
1.Eastern Forest Insects
Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.