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Species Apatelodes auduboni - Hodges#7664.1

Apatelodes sp. ? - Apatelodes auduboni Apatelodes sp. ? - Apatelodes auduboni Apatelodes sp. ? - Apatelodes auduboni Caterpillar - Apatelodes auduboni Caterpillar - Apatelodes auduboni Caterpillar - Apatelodes auduboni Caterpillar  - Apatelodes auduboni Caterpillar  - Apatelodes auduboni
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 Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)
Family Apatelodidae (American Silkworm Moths)
Subfamily Apatelodinae
Genus Apatelodes
Species auduboni (Apatelodes auduboni - Hodges#7664.1)
Hodges Number
7664.1
Explanation of Names
Collected at what was formerly known as the Sabal Palm Audubon Center.
Size
Male forewing length: 17-18 mm, female forewing length: 19-20 mm
Range
Cameron County, Texas, and, likely, Mexico.
Habitat
This pretty caterpillar was found right on the (north) bank of the Rio Grande. Food plant may be 'Jarillo' (sp?) a rapidly growing small tree similar in appearance and habit to a willow. But there are many other shrubs and small trees, especially small ash trees. -- South Texas Guy
Food
Found feeding on Colima / Lime Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum fagara). -- Seth Patterson
Remarks
Wagner and Knudson (2014) discuss evidence suggesting that the larva's bright coloration and conspicuous diurnal behaviors as well as those of other apatelodid larvae are consistent with the hypothesis that Apatelodes and perhaps other apatelodids are Batesian mimics of arctiines and megalopygids.
Print References
Wagner, D.L., and Knudson, E., 2014. Description of Apatelodes auduboni n. sp. from Texas (Bombycoidea: Apatelodidae), with a query as to whether apatalodid larvae are Batesian mimics. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, 68(3): 211-217. (BioOne)
Internet References