Page 206 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION North America (except northern Canada and the southwest
United States), south to northern Mexico
HABITAT Prairies, meadows, roadsides, parks, and forest openings
HOST PLANTS Grasses, including Festuca spp., Poa spp., and Avena spp.

NOTE Superbly camou aged caterpillar that feeds on grass
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1¾–2 in (45–50 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1–1 ⁄ in (25–30 mm)
CERCYONIS PEGALA
COMMON WOOD NYMPH
204
(FABRICIUS, 1775)

Common Wood Nymph caterpillars hatch from eggs laid singly
nine to ten days earlier on grasses or nearby surfaces, and often
tucked deep into a clump. The young caterpillars overwinter in
dormancy and do not start feeding until the following spring,
when grasses produce new growth. The larvae feed mostly
at night on grass-blade edges, often spending the day at the
base of the grass. No nests are made, and survival is based on

camou age. There are ve or six instars, and pupation usually
occurs on host grasses, with pupae suspended from a bent-over
stem or blade, sometimes encircled by silk strands.

Development in spring to adulthood takes two to three months.

A single brood of adults ies from May to September, becoming
dormant during the heat of summer in many areas. During this
time, females may be found in groups of 6 to 20, resting in the

shade, neither feeding nor egg-laying. Both sexes feed on ower

nectar and sap ows.

The Common Wood Nymph caterpillar is
yellowish green, densely clothed with white
spots and short, white setae, with a dark,
middorsal stripe. There are two yellow stripes
laterally, the lower one bolder. The head is
green with white spots, and the posterior
Actual size segment has two red-tipped tails.