Page 350 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Lasiocampidae
DISTRIBUTION Across Canada and United States
HABITAT Deciduous woodlands
HOST PLANTS Deciduous trees, including oak (Quercus spp.),
Maple (Acer saccharum), aspen (Populus spp.),
and Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
NOTE Widely distributed tent caterpillar that causes defoliation
of hardwood trees
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1–1¾ in (25–45 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2–2 in (50–65 mm)
MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA
FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR
348
HÜBNER, 1820

Unlike other tent caterpillars, the Forest Tent caterpillar does
not spin a tent. Instead, the gregarious caterpillars, which hatch
in late winter from overwintering eggs laid in a band around
a twig, spin silken sheets on trunks and branches. Here they
gather to rest and molt, basking together to increase their body
temperature, which accelerates development. While young,
they feed together, too, traveling en masse along strands of silk
from branch to branch, following a scent trail laid by returning
caterpillars. Older caterpillars wander in search of food and
a place to pupate.

The pale yellow cocoons of the Forest Tent caterpillar can
The Forest Tent caterpillar is dark brown to often be found among leaves and in cracks in bark. Pupation
black, with faint blue and yellow stripes running takes around two weeks; the adult moth emerges and ies in
the length of the body. Each abdominal segment
bears a dorsal, white, keyhole-shaped spot. Fine summer. Because of the damage they cause hardwood trees, the
white hairs are distributed across the body.
caterpillars are an economic pest. In some years, outbreaks result
in widespread defoliation.

Actual size