Larval-behavior
Guides
Caloptilia serotinella
Cherry Leafroller Moth
A small moth in the family Gracillariidae known for its distinctive leaf-rolling larval behavior. The caterpillar constructs leaf rolls on cherry and related host plants by spinning silk strands between opposing leaf surfaces, generating collective force exceeding 0.1 N to draw leaves into tight cylinders. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light and have been documented at moth-lighting events in North America.
Habroscelimorpha dorsalis media
White Beach Tiger Beetle
Habroscelimorpha dorsalis media is a subspecies of tiger beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the White Beach Tiger Beetle. This subspecies inhabits coastal sand dune environments where it exhibits specialized behaviors for survival in sandy habitats. The larvae of this subspecies display a distinctive defensive behavior: when disturbed, they leap from their burrows, grasp their tail with their mandibles, and allow wind to roll them wheel-like across the sand surface. This rolling escape mechanism has been documented on barrier island dunes off the coast of Georgia.
Icosium
Icosium is a monotypic genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) established by Lucas in 1854, containing the single species Icosium tomentosum. The genus is notable for the unique acoustic behavior of its larvae, which produce substrate-borne vibrations audible to humans through mandible scraping against bark. This represents the first documented case of chorusing behavior in Cerambycidae larvae.
Icosium tomentosum
Icosium tomentosum is a longhorn beetle and the sole species in the monotypic genus Icosium. Native to the Mediterranean region, it has been introduced to California. The species is notable for its larval acoustic behavior: larvae produce audible sounds through mandible scraping against bark and exhibit chorusing behavior, responding to vibrations from other larvae in nearby branches.
Synchlora cupedinaria
Brown-bordered Emerald
Synchlora cupedinaria is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880. The species is restricted to the Caribbean region and extreme southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form and S. c. guadelupensis described by Herbulot in 1988. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 14–17 mm. Like other members of the genus Synchlora, the larvae are known for their remarkable camouflage behavior, adorning their bodies with fragments of host plant material.
Synchlora frondaria
southern emerald, wavy-lined emerald
Synchlora frondaria, commonly known as the southern emerald, is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. The species is notable for its remarkable larval camouflage behavior, in which caterpillars decorate their bodies with plant material from their host plants. This self-decoration, combined with phenotypic plasticity in coloration, creates a 'double cloak of invisibility' that allows larvae to blend effectively into diverse backgrounds. The species occurs across a broad geographic range including the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America.
Synchlora herbaria
White-dotted Emerald
Synchlora herbaria is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 13 mm. The species is notable for its Caribbean distribution, with records from Florida and multiple Caribbean islands. Larvae have been documented feeding on Lantana camara, and like other Synchlora species, they camouflage themselves by attaching plant material to their bodies.
Synchlora pectinaria
Synchlora pectinaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, described by Grossbeck in 1910. Like other members of the genus Synchlora, its caterpillars are known for adorning their bodies with bits of plant material—flower petals, leaves, and other vegetation—to achieve remarkable camouflage. This behavior, shared with the more widespread S. aerata, makes the larvae exceptionally difficult to detect among the flowers and foliage they consume. The species is part of the emerald moth group (subfamily Geometrinae), characterized by their typically green adult coloration.