Lobster Moth Caterpillar from Japan

danielj

August 21st, 2007 at 12:00 am

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Lobstermoth caterpillar pictures!
My house has a guest! Well, this one is living outside. When I found him (or her) clinging to my son’s shoelace, I put him in a box and took him to the Butterfly House. The lady at admitting, after peeling herself nervously off the wall, pointed me to the next building over where they concentrate on such lovely natural wildlife. Of course, I already knew I was holding a Lobstermoth Caterpillar. What I didn’t know was what this fellow ate, and what it’s known as here in Northern Japan. They’re called Shachihokoga. Ga meaning moth, and Shachihoko being those fish-shaped gargoyles adorning the roofs of some houses. … The pictures were snapped by a nice fellow at the nature center who has a camera that can macro. Someday I’ll have one. Or learn to use one… or both. He told me they eat chestnut, acorn and other such leaves. Really?
Jill Sylvan

lobster cat japan fill Lobster Moth Caterpillar from Japan

Hi Jill,
The crazy looking Lobster Moth Caterpillar, can be found throughout Europe, and in parts of temperate Asia including Korea and China as well as Japan. The range information was located on what we believe to be a Scandinavian website.

lobster cat japan jill 2 Lobster Moth Caterpillar from Japan

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From Tussock Moth Caterpillar | What's That Bug? on 14 Jun 2009 at 9:29 am ¶
[...] Hi Rich, This is a Tussock Moth Caterpillar in the genus Orgyia, probably the White Marked Tussock Moth, Orgyia leucostigma, which BugGuide describes as: “Caterpillars are recognized by the bright red head and broad black stripe along the back flanked by a yellow stripe each side. Two red glands on sixth and seventh abdominal segments, and four tufts of hairs (which may be white, gray or yellowish) on the first four abdominal segments are common to several members of the genus. CAUTION: Contact with hairs may cause an allergic reaction. Adult females, which are pale grey, are wingless and therefore flightless. “ We are amused that you described this caterpillar as looking like a scorpion, because you have a species in the UK, Stauropus fagi, the Lobster Moth Caterpillar, which really, really looks like a scorpion. We posted a photo of the Lobster Moth Caterpillar in September 2005 from England and more in August 2007 from Japan. [...]