Subject: Ascalapha (Probrably)
Location: South of Brazil
November 7, 2016 7:38 am
Every year, these caterpillars came and use to stay in different species of trees. The most commum tree is the Prunus selowii. They use to stay in a big group , normally .8 m to 1,0 abovo the ground. They are very predate by hemiptera insesct, as you can see in the picture.
Totally inofensive, I means, they don´t provoque any irritation in the skin when manipulate.
Signature: Wilsonpni
Dear Wilsonpni,
Though your caterpillars resemble the caterpillar of a Black Witch, Ascalapha odorata, based on this BugGuide image, we do not believe that is a correct identification. We are pretty certain Black Witch Caterpillars do not feed in such aggregations. Though the color is different, your caterpillars remind us of Morpho Caterpillars from our archives. We will contact Keith Wolfe to get his opinion. The image of the Predatory Stink Bug nymph feeding on a Caterpillar is a nice addition to our Food Chain tag.
Olá Daniel,
Nope, sorry, these are moth caterpillars, those of Morpho appearing distinctly different.
Abraços,
Keith
Update: November 8, 2016
Thanks to a comment from contributor Cesar Crash of Insetologia, we now believe these are Giant Silkmoth Caterpillars from the genus Arsenura.
Daniel, I recieved simmilar images and my opinion was Arsenura. I dunno if it’s correct, but it must be some kinda moth, cause there are some cocoons in our images: http://www.insetologia.com.br/2015/11/lagartas-gregarias-e-casulos-em-sao.html#comment-2989619991
Thanks Cesar. We looked up some Arsenura Caterpillars and we believe you are correct.
Hi, finally I have what seems to be the real ID of these caterpillars.
It’s hairy on its sides, it doesn’t match Arsenura and we know it spin cocoons, Arsenura pupate naked on the soil. They are Lasiocampidae and probably Euglyphis sp:
https://www.biodiversity4all.org/observations/99532064
Does a caterpillar that large survive being lunch by a little bug like that?