Spotted Apatelodes

Apatelodes torrefacta

July 18, 2003

This adds a new family to the list - Bombycoidea (Silkworm Moths).

I get two representatives of this group in my

yard (both in the subfamily Apatelodinae).  The other, The Angel (Olceclostera angelica), flew off when I tried to photograph it.  

*I'll get it next time!

Both species have little windows in their forewings and rest in that odd position - body pushed away from the surface of the tree, wings held out and spread.  

Note the puffy legs on this critter, too.  It's an interesting, and taxonomically old species.

The photo of the caterpillar above (transferred from a slide) was taken in August at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth.

* Got it - See The Angel here.