Oak-feeders
Guides
Symmerista
Symmerista is a genus of prominent moths (family Notodontidae) erected by Jacob Hübner in 1821. The genus contains at least nine described species distributed primarily in North America, with several species described from Central America. Larvae are notable for a distinctive leaf-clipping behavior where they sever petioles after feeding and apply red saliva to the cut surface, a trait that has been experimentally demonstrated to introduce salivary constituents into the plant's vascular system to suppress defense responses in nearby leaves.