Aggregating Larvae
August 30, 2009
Don’t have much info other than that these are rather large larvae on a tree in Honduras. Photo taken by a friend of a friend.
Scott
Honduras
Arsenura armida aggregation
Dear Scott,
Over the years, we received similar images four times before we finally identified the Caterpillars as Arsenura armida, a Neotropical Silkmoth that ranges from Mexico to Brazil. Here is a website with information on the caterpillars. The God of Insects website has an image of the adult moth.
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Striped Caterpillar Aggregation from Mexico: Arsenura armida
Mystery Striped Caterpillar Aggregation from Chacchoben: Arsenura armida
Potential Hardwood Stump Borer and a Striped Caterpillar Aggregation from Mexico finally identified as Arsenura armida
Giant Silkmoth from Nicaragua: possibly Arsenura armida
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination
A.armida: very edible!
I tried this species in 4/10 at an international conference on entomophagy; one of the presenters had brought them from Mexico, and said that they’re farmed in the southern part of the country. Fascinating.
They were also exceedingly tasty, if rather unusual. They were fried or rather sauteed, and tasted like a cross between bacon and jerky. Quite yummy, actually.
Dave
http://www.smallstockfoods.com