#apatelodes

Was a weirdly quiet night at the lights the other night - hot all day, pre-storm, barometric pressure physically palpable, but then I found this big boi in a corner of my porch usually reserved for spiders (and things that the spiders have eaten). This is a spotted Apatelodes moth, Apatelodes torrefacta, and I have not seen one in my yard since 2018. Very cool. These moths used to be in the silkworm family (Bombycidae) but have been separated out into their own "American" silkmoth family, Apatelodidae.

"Shaggy Dog Caterpillar," Spotted Apatelodes moth larva, (Apatelodes torrefacta). By J.S. Clark on Flickr. (Larger)

Img credit: butterfliesandmoths.org

What in the world is this? A mop? A lost mitten? Nope. It’s a spotted apatelodes caterpillar. Weird and wonderful, yes?

The luxuriously floofy caterpillar of the Spotted Apatelodes (Apatelodes torrefacta), dining on meadowsweet out in the woods earlier this week.

Happy National Moth Week!

VERY excited to have this show up at the lights last night, even with a wonky wing ;-). This is Spotted Apatelodes (Apatelodes torrefacta), a type of American silk moth and a new species for the yard.

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