SATURNIIDS: NOT THE PLANET

TAVISHI

Saturniids are some of the most well known lepidopterans, or the clade of moths and butterflies. Saturniids are some of the largest lepidopterans, and known sometimes as the giant silk moths. And they're freaking gorgeous.

The group of saturniids consists of all of our best known moths: the Luna moth, Atlas moth, and polyphemus moth.

Something unique about many lepidopterans, but especially to saturniids, is the short lifespan of adults. Most lepidopterans spend the largest portion of their life as larvae. As adults, they live primarily to mate. This rings true especially with Saturniids, as all individuals lack digestive tracts and have nonfunctional mouths. One of my lesser known favorites is the bisected honey locust moth, mostly found in the southeastern United States. The caterpillars feed off of the honey locust tree, for the most part, but also the Kentucky coffee tree.

Unfortunately, while caterpillars get a few weeks of life, bisected honey locust moths live for only a few hours. They hatch around the afternoon, mate in the early morning of the next day, and die around sunrise. Now, while most saturniids are harmless, some are particularly spicy! Take the members of the genus Lonomia, whose caterpillars are highly venomous and really good at hiding. Their venom is anticoagulant, and released through urticating bristles on the caterpillar's surface. When venom is released, severe hemorrhagic effects occur. However, because venom is released in small doses because tiny caterpillar, it takes around 20-100 stings for the venom's effects to actually occur and cause potential death. The most well known species within Lonomia is L. obliqua, found mostly in South America.

However, not all Saturniids are like this. Some are completely benign, and just adorable. (Sorry for the short post, kinda tired.)