A note on Gamelia bennetti Cock & Rougerie (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and its caterpillar in Tobago, West Indies

Abstract

The note reports on recent observations of the moth species Gamelia bennetti on the island of Tobago. Researchers successfully identified the Rangoon Creeper as a natural food source for the insect, marking the first time a host plant has been recorded for this specific group. The text provides a detailed physical description of the mature caterpillar, noting its green spiny body and its transition to a yellow hue before pupation. Additionally, the authors analyzed several adult male specimens, concluding that the species exhibits a wider range of color variations than previously understood.