Eutricha capensis, The Cape Lappet Moth Caterpillar

            South Africa
Cape Of Good Hope

i didn't get a chance to photograph the moth. 

Eutricha capensis, the Cape lappet moth, is a species of moth in the family Lasiocampidae primarily found in South Africa. There is little agreement regarding the extent of the Cape lappet moth's range in southern Africa.

During the larval stage, cape lappets feed on a wide variety of African plants. The caterpillars are brightly coloured and conspicuously hairy, while the bulky adult moths are mostly brown and much less striking in appearance.

The adults are large and stocky, with an average wingspan of about 70 mm (2.8 in). Both hind wings and fore wings are reddish brown. The fore wings are flecked with yellow and bear three wavy white stripes. Females are typically paler in colour and larger than males. Adult moths lack developed mouthparts and therefore do not feed. 
 
The larvae are distinctly hairy with rows of orange tufts of long hair along the sides of the body. Arranged at the head are 3 large coppery tufts and 2 smaller purple tufts. Along the dorsal side of the caterpillars is a row of black triangles flanked either side by white.

Gregarious as larvae, the caterpillars clump together in numbers. For E. capensis at least, aggregating behavior appears to be of no benefit to the caterpillars in terms of either water or energy conservation. The emergence of the adults occurs in early summer. When disturbed, adults are non-aggressive. Wikipedia

Taken in: South Africa / Western Cape / Cape Town / Oranjezicht (show map)

Taken on: September 15, 2011

Tags:

South Africa 2011

Cape Of Good Hope

South Africa

Caterpillar

Unknown Species

660 Species Butterflies

7000 Known Moth Species

Rocks

Sue Roehl

Pentax K7

Sigma 150-500 mm Lens

Hand held

Slightly Cropped

Arthropoda

Sunrays+5

coth5

Printed « less

Sets appears in: • South Africa, Sept. 2011

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