Bombycomorpha bifascia

Description

Bombycomorpha bifascia, the pepper-tree caterpillar, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae, occurring in Southern Africa. The 40mm long larvae feed on the foliage of Rhus dentata, the pepper-tree Schinus molle and other Anacardiaceae, showing a preference for the foliage of the introduced pepper-Tree. The body of the larva is black with two narrow yellow lines (bifascia) running down each flank. A coating of orange hairs gives it a yellowish appearance. The larvae are highly gregarious and feed in small groups, with a tendency to become cannibalistic when food is depleted. Moulting four times they attain full size in 50–60 days, at which point they descend to ground level and search for a suitable pupating spot. The cocoons are about 20mm long and chocolate-brown in colour. After some 14 days the moth emerges. If the season is unfavourable the larvae hibernate until the following Spring.