ID Challenge: Ingrid's caterpillar

Ingrid sent me this lovely picture of a caterpillar, along with a challenge to ID the wee critter :D

November 2010, Ehime, Ingrid Lezar


At first glance, whenever I see a hairy caterpillar, my thoughts automatically jump to Arctiidae as they are quite a hairy bunch :P.
This fellas hair is different however. It alternates between bristles (the whitish spikes on its sides) and haired projections (the yellow tufts on its back). This is a distinctive feature of the family Lymantriidae. It's interesting to note that this family is actually absent from New Zealand. I must see one of these with my own eyes whilst I'm in Japan :D!

As for the exact genus and species, I'm tempted to say Calliteara pseudabietis AKA リンゴドクガ AKA the apple toxic moth . This species is found in Shikoku (as well as 北海道 Hokkaido,本州 Honshuu,九州 Kyuushuu,対馬 Tsushima, and 屋久島 Yakushima).
See the picture below:

http://aoki2.si.gunma-u.ac.jp/youtyuu/HTMLs/2002-10-15-fukuyama-rinngo.html 貴代美 11/11/2005

However, we are missing the hairy, red projection on its little backside. So, as I don't know enough about this family, I'll just leave the ID at Lymantriidae. The best way to confirm the species ID of a caterpillar is to actually keep it and see what it turns into! :P

I'll leave you with a picture of what this cutie might have turned into:



Mighty fine and furry legs I must say!!

Thanks Ingrid! :)


http://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-5/introduction.php
http://www.jpmoth.org/Lymantriidae/Calliteara_pseudabietis.html
http://mushinavi.com/navi-insect/data-ga_doku_ringo.htm

Spilarctia sp. (ヒトリガ科 Arctiidae)

Spilarctia sp.
科：ヒトリガ科(Arctiidae) ヒトリガ亜科(Arctiinae)

5/5/11 Ehime 愛媛県
Also found whilst yakiniku-ing :)

My fav photo of this fine and fluffy specimen








Playing dead makes it nice and easy for me to take photos


Look at my antennae! I'm a real stunner ;)



Such a beautiful moth!! Its gorgeous colouring with the pale yellow, orange, black and the striking red make me so happy. And, the FLUFFINESS!!!! A definite cutie ;D.


http://www.jpmoth.org/Arctiidae/Arctiinae/F000Spilarctia.html

Eilema sp. (ヒトリガ科 Arctiidae)

Eilema sp.
科：ヒトリガ科(Arctiidae) コケガ亜科(Lithosiinae)

Eilema is a genus of moth in the family Arctiidae。



5/5/2011 Ehime 愛媛県


One of a few pretty moths I have for you today, found whilst yakiniku-ing (having a bbq!). It was attracted by the spotlight we were using to see how char-grilled our meat had become :P.
This little fella was about 15mm long.


http://www.jpmoth.org/Arctiidae/Lithosiinae/Eilema__UNIDENTIFIED.html
http://www.boldsystems.org/views/taxbrowser.php?taxid=7981