It is a caterpillar with a distinctive appearance due to its flattened, disk-like body and fleshy lateral projections that give it a star-shaped outline. Its coloration combines green, yellowish, and brown tones, with irregular markings that enhance leaf-surface camouflage. The spines are short and inconspicuous, but they contain urticating substances capable of causing skin irritation in sensitive people. The adult is a small moth with muted colors, triangular wings, and a short, discreet flight. The life cycle includes several larval molts before pupation, a stage marked by profound internal transformation.
Geographic distribution: It occurs mainly in central and northern Argentina, with records in Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, and Córdoba, extending into southern Brazil and Uruguay. Its distribution is associated with lowland and foothill regions that retain continuous tree cover. In fragmented landscapes it may persist in urban parks, gardens, and green corridors, provided suitable host plants are present.
Habitat: It inhabits riverine forests, native woodlands, gallery forest edges, and human-modified environments. During daylight hours, larvae remain motionless on the upper or lower surface of leaves, where their shape and color allow them to blend with the plant tissue. Temperate to subtropical climates with adequate humidity favor its development.
Feeding: The larva is herbivorous and feeds on the leaves of various trees and shrubs, including members of Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, and Rutaceae. Feeding is slow but continuous, producing irregular damage on the leaf blade. Adults have a short lifespan and show limited feeding activity, restricted to occasional nectar or plant fluids.
Behavior: It shows a mostly solitary behavior, without forming stable aggregations. Activity is mainly nocturnal, both for feeding and movement. When disturbed, it flattens against the leaf and remains immobile, relying on defensive mimicry and the irritating effect of its spines.
Reproduction: Females lay eggs singly or in small clusters on the surface of host leaves. After hatching, larvae pass through several instars before forming a pupa attached to the substrate. The complete cycle varies according to temperature and food availability, lasting several months under favorable conditions.
Conservation status: It is not considered threatened at a regional scale, but its persistence depends on the maintenance of tree-covered habitats. Habitat fragmentation and intensive pesticide use may negatively affect local populations.
Author of this compilation: EcoRegistros – 26/01/2026