#NationalMothWeek continues with a species I’m looking forward to seeing again soon.
Calleta silkmoth (Eupackardia calleta), Welder Wildlife Refuge in Sinton TX, October 2014.
Most silkmoths are nocturnal, as their size can make them an easy target for hungry birds and other predators. However, female Calleta silkmoths release their sex pheromones in the morning, with males risking their lives in the daylight to reproduce. Females wait until dark to seek out host plants to lay their eggs, with some females capable of laying eggs within 12 hours of emerging from their cocoons.
Caterpillars feed on many legume plants, including ash, lime prickly ash, Mexican jumping bean, sage, as well as citrus plants. I have yet to see a caterpillar in the wild but provide an image below, courtesy of R Ted Frey 2014 via BugGuide.