Autumn Colors in Leaves and Leaf-Eaters
The world of insects is at least as fascinating as the marvel of autumn color and perhaps in many ways more mysterious. Each time you walk into a forest you are surrounded by thousands of species of different insects, but many of these are hidden or otherwise out of sight. Nonetheless, each species is progressing through its lifecycle and is finely tuned in to the various mechanisms and relationships necessary for survival within the forest ecosystem.
Today's featured insect is known as the linden prominent moth (Ellida caniplaga of the prominent family Notodontidae). The caterpillars of the moth feed on the American basswood tree (Tilia americana), also known as the American linden. While this moth is not an uncommon species, it is hardly ever seen in the larval stage. This is because the caterpillar spends almost its entire life high in the canopy of the forest. Entomologist and moth expert John E. Rawlins of Carnegie Museum of Natural History indicates that the lifecycle of the linden prominent is so cryptic that for many years the description of the caterpillar was not known and as such was missing from early scientific literature.
Dr. Rawlins also explains that the usual coloration of this caterpillar is a bright yellow-green during most of its growth. Only as the caterpillar nears the end of larval stage does it change color. Then, as it moves toward the ground it takes on an even more distinctive red or pink coloration, which probably provides more camouflage on tree bark and the forest floor. It is not the only moth species to alter its background coloration in this way in late caterpillar life. Also, as in some other moth species, the linden prominent completes its metamorphosis as a pupa in the soil before emerging as a nocturnal moth in our regional forests.
Serendipity allowed today's caterpillar to be photographed this autumn in Westmoreland County, PA by WPC's own Alysha Trexler, Watershed Technician. The adult linden prominent was photographed by John Himmelman of Kilingworth, CT. See his work at: "Discovering Moths, Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Yard."
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