“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).
“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
8 responses
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.
Unable to ID the moth as the pupae were parasitised by wasps. Have yet to see an adult tussock moth.
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’.
I realise the tussock moth caterpillar lays eggs before it metamorphosizes. Why donu say that they lay eggs after mating as an adult?
Why *do u* say that they lay eggs after mating as adult moths?
Thanks for the update, Adrian.
Lots of Tussock caterpillars at Raffles Hospital, level 8, outdoor garden with water feature.
I have three of these on my balcony – for some reason preferring the wall to the plant which I assume they hatched from.