Caterpillars from the Silkmoth Arsenura armida
This time of year at BFREE, I have seen literally hundreds on the trunks of trees, so many that you could actually hear a munching sound as you walked by. It was downright freaky!!
These are the caterpillars from the Silkmoth Arsenura armida. The caterpillars live in groups and at least attempt to look poisonous. I have tried to rear the caterpillars on a number of occasions but their aposematic look apparently does not deter parasitoids and the majority of caterpillars that I reared proved to be parasitized. While the caterpillars appear to be poisonous or at least distasteful, once prepared properly by cooking, they do become suitable for human consumption. Eat the caterpillars, the adults taste mothy.
Photograph by Chrissy Tupper
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