Observations by claudeleroy

These caterpillars defoliated the Croton sylvaticus in a little more than 24 hours. They then fell to the ground in their hundreds. Pictured also in the "sawdust" created under the trees. Lastly a photo of the resulting pupae created within a day. I collected some pupae and kept them until they hatched (?) and the photos are the moths that emerged.
The time line: Day 1 & 2 trees are defoliated. Day 3 & 4 caterpillars fall to the ground. Day 5 pupae are formed. Day 15 the moths emerge.