Florida Nature Pictures
Butterflies

Polka Dot Wasp Moth Life Cycle
Syntomeida epilais

This is the caterpillar of the Polka Dot Wasp Moth.
It feeds on Oleander leaves. which are poisonous.
Young caterpillars feed in groups on the undersides of the leaves.
They eat around the poisonous veins thus leaving a skeletonized appearance on the leaf.
As they get older, caterpillars will eat the entire leaf.

Here is my caterpillar that has found a nice corner to pupate.
It spins silk and uses the hair off its back to conceal the pupa.
In the wild, they will usually pupate in groups.
They stay in the cocoon for about 2 weeks.

They get their names because they sort of look like wasps and not moths.
They even fly during daylight hours. unlike moths.

The dark blue metallic color is amazing!
This species is common to South Eastern Florida.

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