Hylesia Silk Moth

Description:

This is my 420th Moth Spotting for Chiapas, Mexico, most from the mountain valley of San Cristobal de Las Casas. This moth looks like a kind of Buck Moth, very hairy and plain brown with a tinge of orange on the body hair and orange antennae. When touched, it will curl the abdomen, close the wings and drop to the ground pretending to be dead (last picture). Family Saturniidae.

Habitat:

Came to an ultraviolet light in the garden, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

Two other species of Hylesia have been spotted from Chiapas, one from the pacific coastal lowlands (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/187...) and the other from the tropical forest of the Soconusco area in southern Chiapas at about 800 meters (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/210...).