8224 – Calidota laqueata
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Species Pages
Freshly emerged female (top) being persued by a male (bottom)
Female laying eggs
Eggs
Host Plant Rough Velvetseed
(Guettarda scabra)
Host Plant Rough Velvetseed
(Guettarda scabra)
3rd instar larva
Final instar larvae
Freshly emerged male
2nd instar larva
Final instar larva
1st instar larva
Final instar larva spinning cocoon
Cocoon
General Species Information
Host Plant: Hammock Velvetseed (Guettarda elliptica)
Historical Range: Southernmost Florida
Our Experience with this Species: We have This species on Key Largo, Big Pine Key and No Name Key in the following months; Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jul, Nov, Dec. They are far more common in the lower Keys than they are in Key Largo.
Notes: In the year 2000 I found my first specimen on a wall at the hotel I was staying at in Key Largo. It would be another 7 years until I would see another one. In 9 years of consistant moth surveying in Key Largo, we found 4 total specimens of this species. It was concidered one of my most prized finds when encountered. In 2013 however, when we started surveying Big Pine Key and No Name Key, we were pleased to see that this species has a much stronger population towards the southern Keys. Females were obtained one night and when placed in a paper bag with some leaves of the host plant, they quickly began laying eggs. Larvae are very picky, only eating the freshest and newest foliage on the host.
Distribution Chart
K. Largo Marath. Ba. Hond B.P.K. No Name Sck. Isd. K. West
Colored box indicates adult of this species has been confirmed on that island
Adult Flight Chart
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Colored box indicates adult of this species has been confirmed in that month
References