Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Limacodidae
Genus: Acharia
Acharia stimulea (formerly Sibine stimulea) belongs to the moth family Limacodidae, commonly known as the Slug Caterpillars (1). Acharia stimulea caterpillars are brown with a vivid green saddle and are covered with hairs which deliver a potent sting when touched (2). Their striking coloration is likely a warning to predators to “back off!” The adult moth is a dark chocolate brown with black shading and a few white dots and range from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas. Adults generally fly in July and August, except in the extreme South, where they fly year-round. The caterpillars are found on a variety of trees, shrubs and garden plants. The specimen pictured here was found on a hickory near the intersection of Circuit & LaSalle on the Duke University campus.
Acharia stimulea – Saddleback Caterpillar
Acharia stimulea – dorsal view
Acharia stimulea – Close up of anterior end
Acharia stimulea – Close up of posterior end
Acharia stimulea on Bugguide.net
Acharia stimulea on Wikipedia
Startle display and images of adult moth Acharia stimulea on UFL.edu
Sources
(2) Covell, C.V., Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths., 2nd ed., (2005), Virginia Museum of Natural History.
(3) Triplehorn, C.A. and N.F. Johnson, Borror and Delong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th ed., (2005), Thomson Brooks/Cole.
