Interesting Early Stages of Some Sri Lankan Moths Typical Moth Life Cycle

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Interesting early stages of some Sri Lankan Moths Typical Moth Life Cycle

A Cocoon is a casing of spun silk produced by many insects to form a protective covering for the Pupa. Many Moth Caterpillars for example produce silk cocoons. Cocoons can be of various types, from hard to soft, with various colours dependent on the species involved. Wingless Females

Some female moths of the Subfamily Lymantriinae are flightless.

Male Female Orgyia sp.

Lymantria sp. Life Cycle of Lymantria ampla

Life cycle of Fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) Ant-mimic Moth caterpillars • Caterpillars in the moth genus, Homodes Guenée have been documented to be closely associated with weaver ants, as well as resembling them in terms of morphology and behaviour (Shelford, 1902, 1916; Kalshoven, 1961; Common, 1990; Holloway, 2005). In Sri Lanka, at least three species have been previously recorded

• Homodes fulva

• Homodes crocea Homodes crocea • Homodes vivida

Dorsal (a) and posterior (b) views of the raised rear end of the caterpillar, Lobster Moth (Stauropus alternus) • First instar larva is a very good ant mimic both in appearance and behaviour • Resting posture of its mid instar look like an irregularly curved, dead leaf. • This resemblance to dried or dead leaf debris is certainly applicable to the later instars as well. Bagworms (Psychidae)

• The bagworm family (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) includes approximately 1000 species, all of which complete larval development within a self enclosing bag.

• In Sri Lanka 23 species have been recorded in this family

• Some bagworms are specialized in their host plants (monophagous) , while others can feed on a variety of plant species (polyphagous) Eumeta variegata • A bagworm begins to build its case as soon as it hatches. • Bagworms add material to the front of the case as they grow, excreting waste materials through the opening in the back of the case. • When satiated with leaves, a bagworm caterpillar secures its case and pupates. • Only adult males ever leave the case, they take flight to find a mate • The adult female, which is wingless, never leave the case. • Male extends his abdomen into the female's case to mate. • Females lay their eggs in their case and die.

Caged Pupa

• It protects the pupa from predators such as ants. • Rain water just falling through the cage, it prevents drowning the pupa. • Usualy the cage is constructed out of larval hairs held together with silk. • When the moth emerges, it appears to exit the cage without damaging it. Unidentified Unidentified Cyana puella • One of the strangest and most beautiful cocoons is that of the Amazonian moth Urodus ( Urodidae ) which has a coarse open mesh design with an exit at the bottom, and hangs like a pendulum from a 20cm long silk cord. • It seems likely that the cord may function to isolate the pupa from marauding ants, but little is known about the biology of this species. Underground Pupa (Family Sphingidae – Hawk Moths)

• Pupation is usually in the soil, sometimes quite deeply, sometimes in a loose cocoon in leaf litter, rarely on a branch of the host-plant. • The pupa has a movable abdomen, often rolling and turning in its cell in the soil

• In view of the length of the proboscis, the sphingidae pupae frequently have a free tounge-case Caterpillar Invasions

Brana calopasa (Erebidae)

Serious pest on හමිල (Berrya coridifolia) Adult Moth Marching Caterpillars

• Pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) Caterpillar Stings

Many moth caterpillars have hairs or spines. In contact with human skin, they can cause pain, rashes, itching, burning, swelling, and blistering. Avoiding caterpillars is best. Remove spines by applying and removing tape to strip the irritating hairs and spines out of the skin. Life Cycles of some Common Moths Asota plana (Erebidae, Aganainae)