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We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
Saddleback Caterpillar Moth
Acharia stimulea (Clemens, 1860)
Family: Limacodidae
Subfamily:
Identification: Wings glossy dark chocolate brown with black shading. One white dot near forewing base, and one to three more near the apex. Hindwing paler brown.
Wing Span: 2.6-4.3 cm. Female larger than male.
Life History: Larva (Saddleback Caterpillar) can inflict a painful sting with sharp bristles on its body.
Flight: June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Many plants including apple, asters, blueberries, citrus, corn, dogwoods, elms, grapes, linden, maples, oaks, Prunus species, sunflowers, and viburnums.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Massachusetts to Florida, west to eastern Missouri and Texas.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments: Changed from Sibine stimulea 07/2009 per Hugh McGuinness.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Sibine stimulea
National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022!
Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live. Learn more.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 365 verified sightings

Observation date: Jun 14, 2022
Submitted by: Docriebe
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022

Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jul 10, 2022

Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: kdegeiso
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 24, 2022

Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: lantanagal
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022

Observation date: Sep 09, 2015
Submitted by: lassa8
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 05, 2022

Observation date: Jul 07, 2014
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 01, 2022

Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: AsthmaEnthusiast
Region: Pike County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 23, 2022

Observation date: Aug 30, 2017
Submitted by: a-o
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022

Observation date: Sep 01, 2008
Submitted by: Ilse Gebhard
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022

Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Dec 18, 2021

Observation date: Nov 09, 2021
Submitted by: antinomy8
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 09, 2021

Observation date: Sep 13, 2018
Submitted by: Tindomul1of9
Region: Queens County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 28, 2021

Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021

Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021

Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021

Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 20, 2021

Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 07, 2021

Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: blueracer
Region: Ashland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Jul 01, 2021

Observation date: Jun 23, 2021
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021

Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: MarkNenadov
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 25, 2021

Observation date: Jun 06, 2018
Submitted by: Emergenurse
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020

Observation date: Sep 11, 2009
Submitted by: wade wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 28, 2020

Observation date: Sep 04, 2017
Submitted by: Exo514
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 18, 2020

Observation date: Sep 22, 2019
Submitted by: JanZ
Region: New Haven County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 15, 2020
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