[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Vince Lucas on 17:05:16 09/27/08
In Reply to: Okeechobee Gourd & Sesiid Moths (No Bird Content) posted by Vince Lucas
A couple of clarifications on my previous post. First, one can drive to one of the locations where Eric photographed one of the Okeechobee Gourds. Here's what he has to say about that site:
"Torry and Kreamer Islands are in Belle Glade, within the Herbert Hoover Dike on Lake Okeechobee. You can reach Torry Island via a bridge over the rim canal. Much of the island is accesible via Torry Island Road, and a the Belle Glade Marina Campground. Kreamer is only accessible by boat.
Lake Okeechobee Gourd, a federally endangered species, likes to grow on cypress and pond apple trees as a natural trellis. Look for it in various spots along Torry Island Road, which is drivable with 4WD.
I would suggest waiting until water levels drop if you will be travelling by foot. Much of the island is now under water. Alligators, venomous snakes and wild hogs are present, so watch your step. Cottonmouths like to hang out in and around the trees. FYI"
I did a little research and found that both C.P. Kimball (_Lepidoptera Of Florida And Neighboring Land Areas, Volume 1_, 1965) and J.B. Heppner's (_Arthropods of Florida And Neighboring Land Areas, Volume 17 in Lepidoptera of Florida, Part 1, Introduction and Catalog_, 2003) both list only one lep which utilizes the Okeechobee Gourd as a larval host. It is an arctiid moth (family Arctiidae) and is called the Salt Marsh Caterpillar Moth, Estigmene acrea (Hodges #8131 i.e. Moths Of America North Of Mexico or MONA).
Also, if you Google "Sesiidae photos" or "Melittia photos" (without the quotes), you can find a number of photos of these interesting clearwing moths that mimic wasps.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]