The venomous hair structure, venom and life cycle of Lagoa crispata, a puss caterpillar of Oklahoma

The presence of a unique population of Lagoa ci crispata puss caterpillar, in western Oklahoma is reported. A detailed microscopic examination shows t he structure of the L. crispata spines resemble the type 4 spines described by [Kawamoto, F., Kumada, N.. 1984. Biology and venoms of lepidoptera. In: Tu, A.T. (Ed.), Handbook of Natural Toxins, Insect Poisons, Allergens and other invertebrate venoms, vol. 2, pp. 291-332 (ch, 9)]. The major food sou rce of L. crispata are the leaves of oak (shin oak). The high tannin conten t of this food source results in spine extracts high in oak tannins, These extracts have activity but enzyme and toxin activity is lost with time. The gel filtration protein fractions are colored from brown to yellow and are inactive as enzymes or toxins, No hyaluronidase, protease or phosphohydrola se activity is detected in these protein fractions The life cycle shows the se caterpillars have 6 instars. Characterizations and annual emerging times of each instar are included. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.