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Tussock moth caterpillars

on 20th March 2016

Tussock moth

“On separate occasions, Maryann Vitudio and Amber Lau brought me caterpillars of the Tussock moth (F: Lymantriidae) to observe. These are rather common. The problem was that the food plants False Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) and an unknown were in short supply. As an alternative I fed the caterpillars with Nam Nam (Cynometra cauliflora) leaves that were acceptable to a certain extent.

“These caterpillars are somewhat colourful with characteristic tufts of hair that is reputed to cause irritations when handled (top). As the caterpillars I received were relatively large, they were invariably at the final instar stage. And as with most pre-pupa caterpillars, they continuously moved around, thus needing to be confined (above, below).

“After some time, the caterpillar laid a mat of silk on the leaves (below),

…gathering a few together to form a cocoon of discarded hairs within (below).

Tussock Moth-cocoon 120216
“The adult moth is generally dull brown or white. They survive for a few days, mating and laying eggs but do not feed. Unfortunate I lost my pupating specimen and am unable to show an image of the moth.”

YC Wee
Singapore
18th February 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

8 Responses

  1. Quite common in this moth. We will be posting an account as mentioned by you. In addition, we have a video of wasps emerging from the cocooned maggots outside the infected pupa.

  2. I had found these on plants I bought from a nursery. They love the leaves of the hibiscus & another plant I don’t know the name of. Cute to watch so long as the plant it’s feeding on is for ‘sacrifice’.

  3. I realise the tussock moth caterpillar lays eggs before it metamorphosizes. Why donu say that they lay eggs after mating as an adult?

  4. I have three of these on my balcony – for some reason preferring the wall to the plant which I assume they hatched from.

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